THE MISSING AIRMEN

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1929, Page 5

THE MISSING AIRMEN

seahchkhs deports

(Australian Precs Association).

WELLINGTON, April 23. 'Amalgamated Wireless to-night furnished reports from the Southern Cross radioman saving:—Left at 8 a.m for flight south to-dav; landed at Nicholson’s Station on Old River at 10.21 : investigated several fires; ‘arrived at 3.33 p.m. at Kookaburra, which is on the edge of a large tract, of burning country; saw -body under wing. Had a good look round for the missing man. not saw no sign. Continued to Newcastle Waters where landed at .1.-11 p.m. Amalgamated Wireless also report* Canberra air liner was on the wing to-day and landed at Newcastle Waters this evening.

ANDERSON AND MATE

OPINION OF EXPERTS

SYDNEY, April 23

Lieut. Katon has been instructed In tho Defence Minister. Sir William tGlasgow, to take charge of the search operations for Hitchcock, and to ar-range-lor Ins burial along with Anderson if he is found dead.

Air F dree machines are now carry iug on the search.

Captain lira in of the Atalanta, at his own request, has been relieved from 'further duty, and he returns to the Quantas Coy’s service.

Sir William Glasgow is greatly distressed at the apparent tragic fate of the missing aviators. He considers that it is impossible for Hitchcock to be alive,

Lieut. Katon lias arranged if or packhorses and black-trackers to visit tlie s r enc where Anderson’s body lies. Anderson’s body lay in the same position to-day as when it was first noticed by Captain Drain. Lieut. Eaton is strongly of the opinion that the other man’s body is buried near the ’plane. Air Force machines will co-operate with the pack-horses party. The Southern Cross will probably reach the Kookaburra to-morrow, and will attempt to make a landing as near as possible. The radio stations at Sydney to-day heard the Southern Cross wireless signals, indicating that she was again in the air, but she was transmitting no messages.

The Defence Department estimates its expenditure upon the search for the Southern Cross as already being £(>000.

PARTY SETS OUT

TO BEACH STRANDED PLANE

(Received this dav at 8.30. a.m.) SYDNEY, April 24.

Eaton’s pack-horse party have left Wave Hill with the object of interring the remains of the aviators at the spot of the forced landing. Eaton will fly the Kookaburra back to Wave Hill if possible. Aeroplanes which visited the area again confirmed the opinion that the mound near the Kookaburra was a roughly made grave. However, in view of the message from the Southern Cross that there was no trace of' Hitchcock when they flew over Anderson’s plane, Air Force officials are inclined to believe that tbe mound might come from a hole which the men dug for water. Several other holes dug show the desperate efforts thi! airmen made to find water, also several wheel tracks on the ground indicate that the airmen tried to take off.

LEAVING FOR HOME

AIR FORCE TO CONTINUE,

SYDNEY

April 24

The Southern Cross, Canberra and Atlanta leave Newcastle Waters to-day for their respective homes, having been released from the search. Air Force machines take over the responsibility of an aerial recon nuisance over the Kookaburra from to-day.

FEDERAL ACTION

SYDNEY

April 24

The Prime Minister said the Federal Government were considering the advisability of asking the Air Force Accidents Board to investigate the circumstances of the forced landing of the Kookaburra. Mr Bruce added that it would he fitting to erect a memorial near the scene of tlie tragedy to perpetuate the sacrifice of Anderson and Hitchcock.

THE TIMES ” COMMENT,

(Times Service)

(Received this dav at I.A p.m.) LONDON. April 23.

The "Times,” commenting on the Kookaburra tragedy, says Anderson and Hitchcock must have suffered greater, bodily and mentally, than the Southern Cross crew. The thing to he remembered of both is that, ol tlieii own freewill, they risked the perils oi a flight over the inhospitable desert regions, in which they came to grief. Like Amundsen, Guilbaud, and their companions, who perished searching for the survivors ol the Italia, Anderson and Hitchcock set out at duty’s call on an errand of mercy, whence they came not hack. I hey lost tlieii lives in an endeavour to save others from a like fate. Australia could not wish for them a nobler epitaph.

KEITH ANDERSON’S RECORD

WELLINGTON, April 22

The iate .Flight-Lieutenant Keith Anderson was only 32 years of age.

He was horn in South Africa, hut at an early age came to Australia. His father died when lie was very young. Anderson was only 18 years of age when he went to the Front. At the end of 1916 he joined up with the Royal Flying Corps, and saw active service in France. He also did considerable flying in England. When he returned to Australia he took a position as air mail pilot on the Perth to Derby and the Perth to Tvalgoorlie air mail service.

In 1926 Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Anderson flew two Bristol tourers from Perth to Sydney, straight across Australia, to start in the rn-tor-State Flying Service, Ltd., with headquarters in Sydney. After they had boon flying for some months Kingsford Smith and (Jim did the round Australia flight in 10.) days. Anderson and a mechanic, accompanied by Air IT. C. Vivian, publicity ilia linger for Bond’s hosiery, took a, second bus and followed (lose on their heels, doing the trip in 14 days. The latter flyers did the longest non-stop flight that had been done in Australia, namely, from Wyndham to Broome, which is practically right across the spot where the Southern Cross was recently found. When they returned to Sydney, Kingston! Smith. I’lm. and Anderson left for America to organise the, transpacific flight, hut through lack of funds, and personal reasons, Anderson returned to Sydney, and, in the meantime. Kingsford Smith and 1 Ini completed the trniis-Pneific flight. .fust prior to his death Anderson had bought a Westland Widgeon and was secretly preparing a non-stop flight from Brisbane to Hobart, a distance of approximately 1300 miles. Anderson was engaged to Miss "Bon” Hilliard, of Sydney, and they were to have been married at the end of Mav. His mother is still in Perth.