ONE MAN DEAD

Southland Times, Issue 20665, 22 April 1929, Page 7

ONE MAN DEAD

LOST PLANE LOCATED BODY UNDER WING -i SAID TO BE ANDERSON NO SIGN OF HITCHCOCK Machine Appears Undamaged (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 12.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 21. The Kookaburra has been found with one dead man under the wing. He is believed to be Captain Keith Anderson. The other man is missing, The discovery was made by Pilot Brain, of Quantas Airways, Ltd., Queensland. A message from Brisbane says that Pilot Brain, of the Aeroplane Atlanta, sent a message to-night as follows: ‘’We found the Kookaburra in the desert approximately 80 miles west by north of Powell’s Creek. We circled low and one man was seen lying under lhe wing. He had apparently been dead for some days. He looked like Anderson. There was no sign of lhe other man. We dropped a can of water attached to a small parachute. The machine appears to be undamaged and stands al the east end of a large patch of ground which was largely burnt off and was still smoking.” Pack horses with a party of trackers are setting out from Wave Hill without delay. Pilot Brain suggests that other machines should join him in the search for the other man, Mr Hitchcock, who accompanied Anderson as mechanic. —Australian Press Association.

TRAGIC FLIGHT

SEARCH FOR SOUTHERN CROSS. AID OF FORMER COMRADES. Captain Keith Anderson, accompanied by his mechanic, Mr H. S. ("Bob") Hitchcock, who was for six years with the West Australian Airways, Ltd., hopped off from the Richmond aerodrome on April 7 in his Westland monoplane Kookaburra in a rush across Australia to assist in the search for his former comrades, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Elight-Lieutenant Ulm.

The Westland monoplane was especially fitted with extra tanks, and had a range of 1,250 miles, if conditions allowed it to make its full speed of 95 miles an hour. Anderson was to make Marree in one hop, and hoped then to fly to Wyndham by way of Alice Springs. Special arrangements for petrol supplies along the route were made.

Mr John Cantor, a personal friend of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, materially assisted in making the flight possible. Anderson was a pilot of long experience, and knew the region over which the search was being conducted well. He flew over it during his trip around Australia. His mechanic was at home over the course.

At Richmond aerodrome on the day of their departure the monoplane came through her tests well. She was reported to have gone up 3000 ft. in nine minutes, carrying a full load. It is understood that previously Keith Anderson remarked, “I would give anything to be able to go and look for the boys.”

"Right,” said Mr J. Cantor, of the Customs House Hotel, "I will back you.” "I want no money,” said Anderson. “I would give anything to go.” Anderson's intended hops after leaving Broken Hill were Oodnadatta, Alice Springs and Wyndham. The first hop was successfully completed and on April 10 the pair set out on. the final lap from Alice Springs to Wyndham. ,

There are few more lonely stretches of country in Australia than that which lies between Alice Springs and Wyndham, in which Anderson was reported missing. It is even more empty of settlement than the Kimberley region. The direct air line between the two placs lies a little to the west of the overland telegraph route for nearly 100 miles.

About 150’miles from Alice Springs lies Stafford Station, from which point it is over 200 miles to the Tanami goldfields,

which arc slightly to the south of the direct air line.

The country between is absolutely empty of white settlement, and much of it is practically unknown. In a direct line, there arc over 300 miles of empty country between Stafford Station and Gordon Downs, on Sturt’s Creek, the first out-station on the Wyndham side. Keith Anderson and Kingsford Smith and Ulm were recently involved in litigation regarding the Pacific flight, but they had been friends for years. EARLIER MESSAGES DESERT COUNTRY SCOURED. SOUTHERN CROSS OUT. (United Press Assn.-—By Telegraph—Copyright). (Rec. 5.5 pan.) Sydney, April 21. The Southern Cross yesterday spent a few hours in the air searching fifty miles north-east of Port George and the country en route to Wyndham without the slightest trace, of Captain Anderson and Mr Hitchcock. An organized search by several aeroplanes of the West Australian and Queensland Airways Companies, in addition to Air Force machines, is now proceeding from a base in Central Australia. Reports state - that some of the country searched is desert and spinifex with an entire absence of water. The heat is terrific below 3000 feet.—Australian Press Association. SCANTY PROVISIONS CARRIED. HOPE ALMOST ABANDONED. Sydney, April 20. Hope of finding Keith Anderson and Hitchcock alive is dying. Admitting that there is no more than a remote chance of finding the men alive the Air Force officials propose to continue their search. When leaving Alice Springs the Kookaburra carried only three bottles of water and a packet of sandwiches. Seven aeroplanes will search to-day, in eluding the Southern Cross and three air force machines arrived at Alice Springs yesterday afternoon. A Queensland plane equipped with wireless also joins the search to-day. The Southern Cross leaves Derby at daylight for Wyndham. The monoplane was given an overhaul yesterday.—Australian Press Association. The news of the discovery of the lost monoplane Kookaburra was received in Invercargill by wireless from Brisbane shortly after 10 o'clock last night by Mr F. Rose, who happened to be listening in to that city. The news apparently did not reach Sydney till about 11 p.m. (New Zealand time) at which hour, Messrs W. Grieve and T. B. M. Muir picked up the information that had already been broadcast from Brisbane. The cabled account reached Invercargill some two hours later.