MISSING PLANE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 228, 26 September 1945, Page 5

MISSING PLANE

STILL NO TRACE

20 OF R N.Z AF. ABOARD FLIGHT FROM NEW HEBRIDES TO WHENUAPAI (P.A.) Auckland, Sept. 25. There was still no news to-night of tile C 47 Douglas Dakota aircraft, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Transport Command, which was due to arrive at VVhenuapai Air Station at 3.40 p.m. on Monday. The aircraft failed to arrive, and nothing is yet known of the fate of her crew of four, and 16 passengers, all of whom were members ot the R.N.Z.A.F.

The aircraft, a twin-engined machine left Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides group, snortly after 6 a.m. yesterday, and the last message received from her was at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, New Zealand time. Search aircraft were dispatched, but no trace has been found of the missing plane.

Those aboard the missing aircraft are:—-

Hoffiens, Flying-Officer Jack Arthur, of Wellington, who is captain of the aircraft. McArthur, Flying-Officer Kenneth, of Auckland, tire navigator. Kennedy, Pilot-Officer Clifton Charles, Blenheim, the wireless operator. Jacobs, Corporal John Douglas, of Christchurch, acting flight engineer.

The following were aboard the plane as passengers:— Coulson, Flight-Lieutenant Wilfrid

Francis, of Riccarton. Farr, Flying-Officer Douglas, of Dunedin. Macpherson, Flying-Officer Alan AI-

lister, of Christchurch. Bath, L.A.C. Oswald Ferguson, of In-

vercargill. Fane, L.A.C. Harry, of Auckland.

Firmin, L.A.C. George, of Otago. Gossling, Corporal Edmund Eaton, of

Christchurch. Grenfell, L.A.C. John Barnard, of Nel-

son. Haldane, Corporal Frank Graham, of

Dunedin. Kearney, L.A.C. Frederick John, In-

vercargill. Reid, L.A.C. David John, of Master-

ton. Russell, Flight-Sergeant Reginald Bernard, of Christchurch. Savage, L.A.C. Ralph George, Riccar-

ton. Taylor, L.A.C. Raymond Jonathan, of Mosgiel. Thomas, L.A.C. Douglas Stanley, of

Dunedin. Wilson, Corporal Marshall Harry, of Taumarunui. EXTENSIVE SEARCHES. The Minister of Defence Mr. Jones, who announced the list of names of those aboard the plane, said the aircraft was last, reported at approximately 10 o’clock yesterday morning, when a routine signal was received

for position details. From that time, no word Had been received from the aircraft, which was due in at Whenuapai last yesterday afternoon.

Aircraft from Norfolk and New Caledonia were sent to search late yesterday afternoon, and extensive searches by a total of 16 planes was being carried out to-day from New Zealand, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, and Espiritu Santo.