Many Saw and Heard Anderson’s Airplane

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 641, 18 April 1929, Page 9

Many Saw and Heard Anderson’s Airplane

SOUTH OF WYNDHAM

SEVERAL MACHINES SEARCH (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9 a.m. SYDNEY, To-day. It is reported at Wyndham that Lieutenant Keith Anderson’s airplane Kookaburra was seen and heard 100 miles south of Wyndham on Friday, April 12. The report is not confirmed. The plane Canberra searched the country almost to Turkey Creek, following rumours that Anderson was seen there. Captain Holden continues the search to-day. Two R.A.A.F. planes were aloft for five and a-half hours yesterday. Three more machines of the Royal Australian Air Force have left Point Cook to assist in the search, and will reach Oodnadatta to-day. Captain Holden in wireless messages from the Canberra says Mr. Griffith and his wife, and four other men and 30 natives all declare that they heard Anderson’s airplane over Turkey Creek last Friday. The rumour was confirmed by the postmaster at Turkey Creek, who also heard the plane.

There was plenty of water in the area searched by the Canberra. Captain Heath was to fly yesterday from Derby to the mud flat near the Glenelg River, where the crew of the Southern Cross are stranded. He proposed to take to them a supply of petrol. It is expected that the ground there will be dry enough to-morrow to permit of the Southern Cross taking the air. If so she will be flown to Derby. Natives from the Port George IV. mission station are now helping Squad-ron-Leader Kingsford Smith and his party to clear a runway for the monoplane to take off.