AIRMEN’S ONLY CHANCES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 642, 19 April 1929, Page 1

AIRMEN’S ONLY CHANCES

Ulm Takes Gloomy View

LOST KOOKABURRA FLYERS Smith and Crew Eager to Search ONLY two slender chances of life are entertained for Lieutenant Anderson and Mr. Hitchcock by FlightLieutenant Ulm—first, if the Kookaburra landed near some outback cattle-station; second, if the airmen were lucky enough to reach a windmill. The Southern Cross has been flown to Derby by Kingsford Smith and Ulm, who are eager to search for the missingflyers. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright)

Heed. 11 a.m. SYDNEY. To-day. The Southern Cross landed at Derby, Western Australia, at 3.15 p.m. yesterday. The lour members ot the crew are reported to be well. An earlier message from Derbystated that Captain Heath, who was the first to lancf alongside the stranded crew of the monoplane on the mudflat near the Glenelg River, flew back to them this morning in a Bristol touring airplane. He took 99 gallons of petrol and a supply of foodstuffs. .'Kingsford Smith and his comrades are all eager to take part in the search for Lieutenant Keith Anderson and his mechanic, Mr. R. S. Hitchcock, who had intended to search for the Southern Cross. Flight-Lieutenant (Jim states: “We believe Lieutenant Anderson and Mr. Hitchock have about only two chances —first, if they landed near some outback cattle station; second, if they were lucky enough to reach a windmill, of which a few are scattered though l the country there.” In spite of their gruelling experience on the mudflats, the crew of the Southern Cross flew the machine to Derby in two hours. As soon as the petrol was transferred from the rescue planes, the engines of the giant monoplane were started with ease. The ground was then cleared of

stones and small trees. The mudflats had dried considerably. Kingstord Smith and Ulm got aboard. McWilliams and Litchfield had been taken oil in other planes to lighten the load. The Southern Cross, which quickly gathered speed, rose in about 400 yards, and flew over the Port George mission. The other planes followed at short intervals, and all set out for Derby. The crew and machine were in fine trim. Smith and Ulm intend to fly to Wyndham as soon as the necessary repairs are finished, and then search for Anderson. At a civic reception later, Smith expressed admiration of the courage of the Westralian pilots, Chater, Woods, Heath, and O'Dea. Ulm drew attention to the inaccuracy of the maps, he said contributed largely to their forced stay at the point of landing. He explained the difficulty in lighting fires, through the rain. Amalgamated Wireless intercepted messages from the air liner Canberra, which for the past three days has searched the Wyndham end of Lieutenant Anderson's route without avail. Captain Holden investigated a number of fires, and passed over very rough country, also the Alice Downs station. He landed on the Flora Valley station, where he is establishing a new base, from which he will continue his search for the missing aviators.