ALL DAY SEARCH FRUITLESS

Chronicle (Levin), 18 November 1946, Page 5

ALL DAY SEARCH FRUITLESS

-Press. Association

By Telegraph—

NELSON, Nov. It. Elown from Takaka airlield yesterday afternoon and seen in the air an. hour after it was due to return, the Nelson Aero Club 's Tiger Aloth, ZK-AKD, later vanished and had not been located by 6.30 p.m. tonight. ii. is presunied that Al'ax J'ohn Richard1 Heath, aged 25, single, of liototaiLtoad, Takaka, who was tlie sole oc cupaiic of the plain, remained in ttuair until the fu.el supply failed. The machine was iiown by the club's instructoi', Pilot J. IV. Reid, to Motueka and Takaka on Saturuay uiorniiig for the purpose of training pupils. Ai;rangenients . were made by Death, who had had four years'' Iiying experience in the Air Eoree, to hire tlie plane for about one aud a-quarter hours local flying from Takaka aerodrome. He flew dual with Reid aud was then checked out solo at 1.15 p.m., being expected baclt about 2.50. The plane, which is painted distinctive navy anu sky blue, was seen by numerous per soiis along the Golden. Bay coast where it circled the niotor vessel Nikau ne*.u Tarahokc, and later over the town of Takaka and Takaka Yalley. Tlie machine carried sufficient fuol for over two hours' flying. .11 has been established that it was seen over Takaka about •>. 50 but it

failed to return to the aerodrome. The fact that the Aloth was overdue was reported to air control at Nelson and Wellington and Jate in the afternoon the Aero Ulub's other two planes andertook a searcli from the air and land parties went out from Takaka The searcli was resumed at duylighi today aud is continuing from tlie aii wliile over 1,50 Golden Bay residents an I searching in parties on land and ii lannches along the coast.