AEROPLANE MISSING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 115, 13 April 1940, Page 8

AEROPLANE MISSING

SEARCH FOR TRAINING CRAFT. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 13. Leaving Christchurch at 2.30 p.m. to-day in a northerly direction for a 10.000-feet height test, a FaireyGordon biplane Jrom AVigram aerodrome, whose marking number is N.Z.G29, failed to return at its scheduled time of 4.30 p.m. and is still missing. The biplane was piloted by Aircraftsman AV. Raphael, a jiilot undergoing training at Wigram. Ho wasaccompanied by Loading-Aircraftsman W. Everist. A search was instituted for the missing ’plane when it failed to return, but no trace of it was found. What is believed to be the missing biplane was seen over Ashburton shortly before 3 p.m. yesterday by Mr John Johnson, Harland vStreet, Ashburton, who was working in a field at Winchmore at the time. He was able to identify it as a Fairey-Gordon biplane but was unable to distinguish its marking number because of the height at which it was flying. . . The Wigram aerodrome authorities think that the biplane seen by Mr Johnson may be the missing. one but are unable to make any definite statement. It is believed possible that the pilot may have lost bis way in heavy mist and storm over the foothills of the Southern Alps and that the men bacl been forced to land. One theory is that the machine is down in the mountains in the area between Cass and Arthur s Pass. Low visibility, rain, mist and slight falls of snow have hampered the seachers from penetrating very * ar into this area, and the search will be taken up again this afternoon and will bo carried on all day to-morrow. HEARD OVER CASS. AY lien the machine took off pom AVigram there was sufficient petrol for three and a half hours’ flying. A report has been received from Cass that an aeroplane was heard over that district about 3 p.m. Mr D. McT.cod, ol Gusniero Station, Cass, said that lip heard a ’plane and judged it to be at an altitude of 4000 ft to 5000 ft. ’Hie aeroplane did hot appear to be following the normal route taken by niachines when flying in that direction, which was either up the course of the AVaimakariri or above the railway lino. This machine, instead of going from east to west, appeared to lie crossing the normal line of flight diagonally from south to north.

“The weather was thick and very foggy,” said Mr McLeod, “and I was surprised to hear an aeroplane over Cass in conditions like that.” AVigram Aerodrome reported that tho weather to-day further into the hills from Cass was particularly had and searching ’planes were handicapped bv had visibility. Another report was that the missing aeroplane was seen over Ashburton. The AVigram authorities have assumed that the machine has been forced down in the hills, possibly in the region where the machine was heard between Cass and Arthur’s Pass. At present there is no trace or clue to guide the search and it is thought unlikely that the machine went out to sea and became lost there.