FATAL TASMAN FLIGHT.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17605, 9 January 1929, Page 8

FATAL TASMAN FLIGHT.

ONE YEAR TO-MORROW.

AIRMEN FLEW TO DEATH WHERE DID THEY LAND? FATE OF MONCRIEFF AND HOOD. Twelve months to-day final preparations were being hurried along in Sydney for the fatal attempt to fly the Tasman by the two intrepid New Zealand airmen. Lieutenant J. R. Moncrieff and Captain G. Hood, which was to commence iin the still hours of the morrow. The flight actually started at 2.4 4 a.m. (Australian time) in good weather. The two young pioneers were in excellent spirits and fired with ambition to be the first to accomplish this epic flight. Prior to leaving, a code of wireless signals was agreed upon between the airmen and Amalgamated Wireless. Those were picked up by the. Australian station until 11.20 a.m., when the plane was practically out of touch. At this time it was estimated that the aviators had covered approximately half the journey, and the signals began to be heard by hundreds of listeners-in on short-wave sets in New Zealand.

The weather conditions on the New Zealand side of the Tasman Sea were perfect. Reports were obtained from the telephone exchanges throughout the day stating that signals were constantly being obtained from the aeroplane, thus indicating that all was well. These reports quickened public interest, and about 10,000 people journeyed to Trentham racecourse by special trains and by motor-cars for the arrival of the aviators, which was expected to be between 5.30 p.m. and 7 o’clock. The number of motor-cars was about 600.

Signals Cease Abruptly.

Messages from Auckland contained the cheering intelligence that they were hearing during the afternoon, intermittent signals Pom the aeroplane, but after 5.30 p.m. the signals ceased abruptly and the hopefulness of the people gave way to anxiety, which increased as the time went by without further signals. The lack of news cast a gloom throughout the country. Among those on the racecourse awaiting the arrival of the airmen were Mrs Moncricff and Mrs Hood. With the great majority of the people they waited until dark before returning to town. The road from Trentham to Wellington was one long procession of motor-cars with head-lights burning. Anxious Watch at Trentham. The anxious watch was maintained at Trentham hour after hour, but as the silence of the night was unbroken the anxiety increased, until the gravest fears were held. Darkness had long ago enveloped the coast, and the countryside, and as yet there was no light in the sky to herald the approach of the rising moon.

The anxiety turned to hope. New’s was received soon after ten o’clock that the monoplane had been sighted over Stephen Island, in Cook Strait, at 9.50.

A few minutes later came advice from the postmaster at Paekakariki that certain settlers of Paekakariki, had seen the plane pass Paekakariki proceeding out to sea, about nine o’clock. It was flying fast and low, and on a downward glide. Sight of the plane was lost off Pukerua Bay. The engine could not be heard. Then there was confirmation that the plane had been seen off Stephen Island. Searching for Landing Ground. Apparently, according to these reports, the airmen were looking for Wellington. They must have circled back, for they were next- reported off Foxton. Meanwhile arrangements were being made at Trentham to light flares to guide the airmen to a landing place, as it was stated they expected to reach Trentham at 11 p.m. or soon after. At 11.30 the monoplane was reported to be over Porirua, and after midnight it was stated the machine was flying across Cook Strait in the direction of Wellington. Rumours were current from the

vicinity of Wairarapa and Wellington that the whirr of an aeroplane engine had been distinctly heard. Some persons even claimed to have seen the machine in the sky, and actually gave a description of it. A bright light in the sky was said to have been seen by certain settlers in the vicinity of the Rimutakas, and a party of holiday makers at Blenheim declared that they had seen an aeroplane in the vicinity of Cape Jackson between midnight and 2 a-m. Then there was the statement by the master of the steamer Kaiwarra, who was emphatic that he saw an aeroplane about ii p.m .circling in the vicinity of Porirua. Still the airmen did not arrive. From then onwards for about a week all sorts of theories were propounded and rumours were current, but still there was no traces of the missing airmen. What actually was their fate nobody knows. Maybe they never reached these shores, but, it is not improbable that their bleaching bones are lying somewhere in one of the Dominion’s mountain fastnesses. Another theory that is not beyond possibility is that they missed or passed over New Zealand altogether (the flight across would occupy not more than 20 minutes), and that they came down to their death on the other side of the vast Pacific. ,