Search for Aviatrix Continues

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 147, 9 July 1937, Page 5

Search for Aviatrix Continues

—Press Assn.-

FURTHER MESSAGES RECEIVED Wide-Scale Naval Operations OVER SIXTY PLANES

(By Teleeraph

— Copyright. I

(Eeceived 9, 11 a.m.) c SAN FRANGIRGO, July 8. What the United States Coastguard considered to be the most interesting amateur report, although doubting whether it was from Mrs. Putnam, was reeeived by an operator at Conrad, Montana, who heard a man's voice saying, "All's well," then later giving his position as 173 west longitude and 5 south latitude. A journalist listened-in on another set and heard ostensibly the aame voice .but it was indistinguishable. The position given intersects at the spot where it is now believed the fliers are down. Eeports were cireulated earlier that the Colorado had picked up Mrs. Putnam, biit the warship advised by wireless that the report was uiifounded. The Colorado has begun an aerial search in the neighbourhood of Winslow. The ship's three seaplanes were catapulted into the air. Admiral Murfin said the 'plane was probably down in the. Phoenix group, provided it was forced down by lack of petrol and not a sudden mishap. The Phoenix group cover an aiea of 36,000 square miles and, including the Howland area, this comprises 300,000 ' miles, which can be searched by tbt. ninety 'planes from tbe aircraft-car-rier Lexington, which will arrive on Monday and can cover 36,000 miles in six hours' flying. The Colorado will probably be released from the search as soon as the Lexington arrives. The Swan will rv main principaily as a guard for fallen 'planes, which will need loisting. The Itasca, after re-fuelling from the Colorado, will continue her search suumwest of Howland Island. The Colorado and the Itasca wirelessed that further search until 6.30 a.m. Friday (Australian time) was unsuccessful. The Colorado 's planes eovered a course south of Howland Island to the reefs and sandbanks north of Winslow Reef yesterday, and to-day in the vicdnity of Winslow Eeef and the Phoenix Islands, southward from Howland. The Itasca swung west of Howland Island and searched south and east from that point. The coastguard headquarters stated that they were not convinced of the authenticity of any of the messages ostensibly from Mrs Putnam after the last oue reeeived on Friday afternoon while the plane was still in mid-air. The Navy Department corrected an announcement concerning the Lexington 's aeroplanes. She has only 62 aboard. The: National Geographic Society 's scientists who have just returned from the Phoenix eclipse expedition stated that the prevalence of food and water on most of the islands there increased the missing flyers' chances of survival