MISSING AVIATORS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16340, 14 May 1927, Page 5

MISSING AVIATORS

HOPES STILL HELD OUT, DIRIGIBLE MAY SEARCH (Elec. Tel. oopyright--onited Press Assn.) (N.Z., and A.P.A., and Sun.) (Received May 14, noon.) WASHINGTON, May 13. Tho Navy Department is considering the feasibility of sending the dirigible Los Angeles north to the coast of Labrador to search for Captain Nungesser. Naval hydrographers express tho belief that if the. fliers are alive they will probably lie in Labrador. Raymond Orteig, sponsor of the New York l’aris flight, cabled from Paris 5000 dollars reward for any aviator discovering the fin to. of Captains Nungesser and Coli.

The Newfoundland Government is I sending a ship to search Placentia Bay. ; Lieutenants Ramsay and Kincaid, naval , hydrographic experts, yvlio have carefully studied the weather conditions, presented a report to. Mr. Wilbur evolving a theory that Captains Nungesser and Goli may have turned over Labrador and are safe The theory is based on the assumption that engine trouble interrupted the flight j fho weather report shows that they j would have struck a storm centre moving northward across their course, and might either have been blown from their course or turned • north purposely, to avoid the storm, winch in turn would have carried ( them oyer Labrador. Investigations disclosed that the wind conditions along the route were the' best “that could be hoped for, but if they descended in Labrador it might he months before they reached civilisation. Raymond Orteig, of New York, is the donor of a 25,000 dollars’ prize for the Atlantic flight. Orteigs attorney advised the Commerce Department that pending the discovery of the airmen’s into, the prize money has been placed in a New York bank. Should a dispute arise the contest committee of the National Aeronautic Association will , decide it. President Coolidge sent a. message of sympathy to M. Douraergue, reading, in part: “I desire to extend .to you and the people of France an expression of deep personal sympathy, which I assure you is shared by all Americans at this time of anxiety over the fate of Captains Nungesser and Coli. Their splendid courage , has touched the imagination of America. There is everywhere a most earnest hope that they may still be found.” HELP FROM BRITAIN AIR MINISTRY’S OFFER (British Official Wireless.) Rec. 10 a.m. LONDON, May 13. i No news has been received of the French airmen Captains Nungesser and Coli. Reports received by British Government departments indicate that what is believed to have been the machine was seen by a submarine in the Channel, off the Isle of Wight, on Monday morning, and later the same day over southern Ireland.

In the House of Commons yesterday it was stated that the British Air Ministry had given the French authorities all the service and assistance possible, and would immediately give any further help the French might require. The Canadian Government also instigated a w’atch along the, Atlantic coast by coastguards and fisheries.

NEW FOUNDLAND REPORTS FISHERMEN SAW ’PLANE (N.Z., and A.F.A., and Sun.) ST. JOHNS, May 12. Five more residents at Harbor Grace said they heard an aeroplane on Monday, according to a statement received on Thursday evening from the',Magistrate, Mr. Casey. The Halifax Herald’s correspondent at Free Fort, Nova Scotia, reported on Thursday evening that the fishermen of that district briefly glimpsed an aeroplane heading west across the mouth of the Bay of Fundy on Monday morning

OTHER FLIERS EAGER THREE MACHINES READY (Australian and N.Z. OabV< Association.i NEW YORK, May 12. , With tho first report, of favorable weather it is expected that three planes now at the Curtis and Roosevelt, fields will race from New York to Paris Simultaneously. The fate of Captain Nungesser and Coli lias acted ns a stimulus rather than a deterrent to the aviators, who are highly nervous lest ono of their number should take riff first. Lieuts. Chamberlain and Bert and are ready to fly to-morrow. Lieut. Lindbergh arrived to-night from St. Louis, having established a record non-stop flight for a lone pilot, averaging 2.23 miles a minute. He ; looms as a dangerous rival. | Commander Byrd, in a Fokker plane, arrived at nearly the same time. The three camps are closely guarded, and mechanics are working feverishly to tune the planes to the highest pitch of efficiency.

MAY START TO-DAY * (N.Z., and A.P.A., and Sun.) (Received May 14, noon.) NEW YORK, May 13. There are indications that two of the three planes planning non-stop flights to Paris will start on Saturday in a race for the first to cross. Lieuts. Chamberlain and Rertaud in the Bellanca plane Columbia await favorable weather. Lieut. Charles Lindbergh, in a single seater monoplane, intends starting on Saturday. . Commander Byrd awaits the fate of Captain Nungesser beforo attempting the flight in o. Fokker.

AIR CHIEF KILLED BAD CRASH AT WARSAW (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) WARSAW, May 12. The Deputy-Chief of the Polish Air Force, Lieutenant-Colonel Polowsky, was flying over tho city when a gust of wind overturned the machine, which crashed on to an hotel roof, and then fell in tatters in the street. Colonel Polowsky was fatally crushed.