MISSING

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1929, Page 5

MISSING

MOIR’S PLANE

ON LAST LAP TO DARWIN.

ANXIETY FELT,

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, May 19. Moir and Owen left Bima for Australia yesterday. They had not arrived at Darwin at 11.30 last night. Grave anxiety is felt for their safety.

A report from Bima on Saturday stated: “We loft Sourabaya at 7 a.m. yesterday, and landed at Bima at one p.m. Ibis has been .our first actual dav of fine weather. The Dutch authorities and the British Consul both were in touch with Koepang concerning our making a landing there, but the landing ground is impossible, so we must go from here to Darwin direct. Wc leave at 5 a.m., and we expect to make the crossing in thirteen hours. Our speed is cut down considerably, as we have had to fly through rain practically from lAkayab to Batavia, spoiling one propellor. We are now using the other spare one, which has a smaller pitch. Consequently we arc cruising at least ten miles slower than our higher cruising speed.”—(Signed) Moir Weltevreden.

A message sent at 11.5 a.m. on Saturday stated that Moir and Owen had departed from 'Bima for Australia.

A. Darwin message sent at midnight, reported that Moir and Owen’s plane was seen over Koepang at 11 a.m. on Saturday, since which timo it has not been reported. DARWIN APPREHENSIONS. DARWIN, May 19. The failure of Moir and Owen to arrive is causing alarm. They were warned by the aviation authorities not to attempt a night landing, but apparently the warning was unheeded. A large number of people gathered and waited patiently till midnight. The sky was dear, and there was a bright moon. Flares were lighted and there was an “L” shaped scheme of bonfires along the waterfront. Every precaution was taken for the fliers’ safety, but there was no sign of them. POSSIBLE LANDING. DARWIN, May 19. It is quite probable that Moir and Owen decided to land at Atambola, where Ross and Keith Smith landed before essaying the flight to Darwin, instead of persisting in a nine hundred miles ’Bima to Darwin hop. i MOIR AND OWEN. LAST HOP FOR DARWIN. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 20. Neither cable nor telegraph offices received word about Moir and Owen. There is deep concern for their safety felt in all the capitals and cities of Australia. The Defence Department was in touch with Darwin all day, but it was resultless. Sir Keith Smith, who is also closely identified with Moil’s flight has received no advice of the aviators whereabouts. Aviation authorities state the naval people report Moir’s plane over Koepang at 11.30 on Saturday morning. It disappeared to sea headed for Darwin. There is little doubt the aviators were then bent on completing the last stage of their objective before dusk. Captain Grosvenor (aide to the South Australian Governor) to-day searched in his plane for a hundred miles along the coast on either side of Darwin. He went a considerable distance out to sea without a sign of the aviators. Grosvenor, who is flying round Australia in leisurely hops, happened to be visiting Darwin and announced on Friday that he intended flying to meet the aviators and escort them to Darwin. GROSVENOR SEARCHING. SYDNEY, May 19. Captain Grosvenor intends exploring the coastline to Wyndham to-morrow for the missing aviators. There is still a chance that they landed at Atamboe, Timor, as it would not lie possible to land at Koepang, and some time would elapse before communication would be received in Australia. STILL UNREPORTED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 20. Moir and Owen are still unreported. ANOTHER AIRMAN MISSING. SYDNEY, May 19. Pilot Brain, of Queensland Quanta* Aviation Service, who found the Kookaburra. is now missing. He left Brisbane yesterday with a passongei loi Sydnev-Melbourne rail express but has not arrived and it is lea red he has crashed in the hush PILOT BRAIN SAFE. (Received this day at 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 20. Pilot Brain who was reported missing. landed safely at Newcastle. llis passenger was W. Swanton, whose wife died suddenly at Melbourne, and who was attempting to catch the express for Melbourne, but headwinds delayed the piano and Pilot Brain decided to stop at Newcastle.