PLANE FOUND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 110, 13 May 1942, Page 4

PLANE FOUND

WRECKED ON MOUNT RICHMOND LOCKHEED LOCATED BY SEARCHER (P.A.) Nelson, May 12. The Lockheed passenger plane which has been missing since last Thursday morning was spotted on north-east face of Mt. Richmond shortly after 8 o’clock this morning hy Flying-Officer Strand. The Lockheed was above the snowline, in rugged country, well smashed up, and tne pilot thought he could identitv the number. He saw no signs of life. The Air Force has been waiting since Thursday for the weather to clear so that a search could be made in this area, but this morning was the first opportunity that occurred. Ninety searchers who were out this morning are being recalled by plane, and the police set out for the scene at once. An inspector from the Civil Aviation Department at Wellington is also going. A detective and four constables left early from Nelson under Sergeant J. Matthews. They were joined on the way by constables and soldiers from Blenheim, making a part/ of 20 as well as two civil aviation inspectors fl| from Wellington. They are proceeding via Wairau Valley and Top Valley \ to the foot of the mountain, whence they will climb and bring hack what they find. A long heavy job awaits them. The wrecked plane is thought to be at least 4000 feet up. <P A.) Blenheim, May 12. Two expeditions are understood to be heading for Mt. Richmond, one from Blenheim and one from Nelson. They comprise policemen and soldiers. The Blenheim party is led bv Constable P. J. Bourke. ’They will have to climb through heavy rough bush country. There has been ram for several days in the mountains. The weather at the moment is clearer than it . V-s been since the Lockheed was lost, hut it is by no means favourable yet for search operations. Mt. Richmond is 5777 feet high and is heavily bush-clad to 5000 feet, above which is the hare rock top, which today was under light snow. The crashed plane is 28 miles by airline from Blenheim and 16 miles From the Nelson airport, hut land access is expected to be easier from Blenheim. Mt. Richmond is 13 miles south of he direct airline from Wellington to Nelson, suggesting that a north-east vind had blown the pilot off his true course. It is anticipated that it will take i full day for the Blenheim party to •each the scene, hut Army signallers nay be with the parly, enabling reports of progress to be wirelessed out. Phe party is equipped for several days n the open. -J|