TOLL OF THE AIR

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8449, 6 April 1933, Page 2

TOLL OF THE AIR

DISASTER IB SEARCH FOR AKRON ’PLANE DROPS INTO SEA TWO OF CREW LOSE LIVES Australian and ic z Cable. BEACH HAVEN (N.J.), April 4., A Navy “blimp,” the J 3, while returning from a search for survivors of the Akron, dropped into the surf off Broawalk here to-day. Five of the crew of seven were rescued. Floyd Bennett aerodrome officials at New York were notified on Tuesday afternoon that a naval ’plane searching for the Akron wreckage was missing off the New Jersey coast. It was exactly 1.30 a.m. when the Cape May station picked up 5.0.3. signals from the Akron. Headquarters here state that the private opinion of officials at Lakehurst is that the Akron was struck by lightning. For a time flares from the dirigible were visible at Barnagat lighthouse. Later apparently they drifted out of range.

The dirigible cost about £1,600,000. Included on board were 20 naval officials, including Rear-Ad-miral William Moffett, Chief of the Air Division, and 57 men. A general alarm was broadcast on receipt of the news and all naval vessels in the vicinity are proceeding to the spot at full speed. A subsequent message stated that the body of Lieutenant-Commander Harold MacLellan was picked up by a coastguard.