MISSING DAKOTA FOUND

Chronicle (Levin), 31 March 1947, Page 5

MISSING DAKOTA FOUND

Received Sundav, 7 p.m. HYDXEY, M arc-h 30. The.Duteli Xavy Dakota missing since Tuesdav was seen from the air in swampv countrv 50 miles northeast of Kai herine, Xorthern Territorv, by a passenger in a Qantas flving-boat. The discovery of tlie plane, for "which a search has been ntade continuously since its disappearance, was au extremely fortunate one. The passengcr, Dr. Stanley, of London, was looking through the window of a fiying-boat bonnd from Bowen to JDarwin wlien he saw liaslies through a break in the cloud. lle notified the first officer, Mr. 1. C. Pearce, who iinmediately tohi the pilot, Mr. A. J. Myers, of Nydnev. The flying-boat, wlticli was at 6000 feet at the time, was brought down through tlie cloud to 500 feet from where tne stranded Dakota was clearly visible. Mr. Myers reported by telephone to Sydney today that he saw tlie aircra.t't lying in a small swampv patch among (leiise scrub tliickets. Four meii were waving and trying to signal with a mirror but he could not read tlie message. Tlie plane appeared to have inade a belly landing and there' was no sign of damage to the fuselage. The Dutclimeii had erash landed in the only clearing for mile and were within reacli of the Katherine River so that they would not have suffered from thirst. An K.A.A.E. Dakota has already dro|i])ed food to tlie marooned Dutchmeu and others vvill drop further supIil ies. A paek train of 25 horses has left Katherine for tlie erash and is expected to arrive there late tomorrow. With tlie end of the wet season approaching, the ground party will face flooded rivers, miles of swamp, thick jungle and tall grass. Xothing has yet been found of the Xew Zealand and Australian Mosquitoes missing in Xorthern Territory.