AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1927, Page 1

AVIATION.

(Australian Press Association & Sun. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19. Captain William Erwin, who was unsuccessful in liis start for the Dole race, took off tin’s afternoon for Honolulu in the plane Dallas Spirit, to sea ieh for the missing fliers. SEARCH PLANE AITSSfNG. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20. Tt is now feared that Erwin’s attempt to find the missing fliers lias only resulted in adding another to the long list of tragedies and mishaps connected with the Dole flight. Naval vessels are speeding towards a locality whence Erwin’s piano, tho Dallas Spirit was last reported by radio as experiencing two tail-spins. The plane’s last message was, “ We are in another,” and then it dramatically halted. Experts fear the final spin brought disaster. , Further mystery is added to the situation by tliq fact that flic radio operators a- various points of the Pacific Coast reported hearing sounds after Erwin’s last message which might indicate that lie was endeavouring to get his sending set into commission again. Afeantimo AVashington officials have expressed the belief that there is little chance of finding the five occupants of the other two missing planes alive. Nevertheless, the Navy’s desperate search has been augmented by aeroplanes and passenger ships, and will continue at least until August 23. Boili missing planes have assuredly been forced to descend. Tlie naval officials fear their canvas wings might have became watorsoaked and their rubber safety boats overturned or broken by the Pacific swells. It is understood those connected with tlie Dolo '-flight are affected by the series of tragedies attendant to it. There are now three known dead, seven missing, three planes smashed, and three missing. Enormous sums of money have l>een spent in preparing for the flight, and tho rescues.

SHIP FROM N.Z. IN SEARCH. SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 20. Tlie monoplane “Dallas Spirit.” piloted by Com. Erwin, with A. TI. F.icliwaldt as navigator, left Oakland at 2.15 p.ni. on Friday for Honolulu to seek the two missing J>ole Flight planes. It radioed twice on Friday evening shortly after nine, that it was going with a. tail spin. It lias not been heard from since. 31 ie nearest vessel to the point, which is 592 nautical miles west of San Francisco, whence the “S.O.S”’ was despatched, is tlie steamer “Pleidou.” bound from Auckland to Sun Francisco. She has sent a message that she is moving her position wider forced draught.

MYSTERIOUS SIGNALS. HONOLULU, Aug. 20. Signal Corps to-day intercepted two messages, partly undecipherable, from an unidentified ship reporting the “Golden Eagle.” had been found. It is not known whether the messages aro authentic. .SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20. Tho steamer Vest Sequinia-, Has wirelessed that members of her crew saw flares on the water in tho vicinity of the Dallas Spirit crash. An all night search failed to discover the plane. 25,000 DOLLARS OFFERED. NEW YORK, Aug. 20. After stopping at Honolulu, Captain Erwin intends flying to Ilong Kong, with a stop at Tokio, to win the twenty-five thousand dollars special prize Air William Easterwood offered him to fly from Dallas, Texas, io Hong Kong. Erwin is also eligible for fhe fifty thousands dollars reward money Rathe discovery of the missing plane crews. BYRD’S ANTARCTIC FLIGHT. OSLO, Aug. 19. Balchen lias arrived here to recruit a ship’s crew for the American commando. Byrd’s South Pole expedition, which is planned to start from California on Noxember 10th next.