Nungesser Still Missing

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 41, 11 May 1927, Page 9

Nungesser Still Missing

Many Experts Abandon Hope Planes and Ships Searching

The French aviator, Captain Nungesser, and his navigator, M. Coli, who left Cherbourg on Sunday to fly accross the Atlantic, are still missing. They are now long overdue, and a search is being made along the North American coast. Heavy fogs have hampered the search made by the United States Air Force. Many experts have abandoned hope for Nungesser's safety.

By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. S a.m. NEW YORK, Tuesday. The agencies which had previously prepared to extend a joyous welcome to Captain Nungesser and M. Coli have now begun to search for the missing airmen.

The United States coastguard has commenced a patrol of the coast and the Atlantic off the Grand Banks. Every inlet in the New England Coast as far as Nova Scotia will be searched. An expedition from the Naval' Air Base at Squatum, Massachusetts, was prevented from taking the air by a heavy fog over almost all the coast from New York to New Brunswick. The Nova Scotia ice patrol protecting the North Atlantic steam ship lines is searching the ocean from Cape Race to Sable Island far out to sea. The radio stations are continuously co-operatiug with all ships crossing. The latter are also keeping a strict watch. Many experts have abandoned hope. Reed. 8 a. WASHINGTON, Tuesday. The French Embassy has asked the Government to give aid in the search for the missing aviators, Captain Nungesser and M. Coli, and have been assured that every effort will be made to find them. A New York message says that fog hampered an intensive search. The land and sea Air Forces of the United States Government have organised a hunt from Newfoundland to New York. Speculation is rife as to the possible fate of the aviators. A theory is expressed that they might have descended at the fish-

ing fleet Grand Banks off Newfoundland and if such is the case, two or three weeks will elapse before they will be heard from as the fishermen lack wireless. —A. and N.Z. RUMOUR OF SAFETY JOY CHANGES TO DESPAIR By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. S a.m. PARIS, Tuesday. A message lias been broadcast from Ushant station appealing to ships to phss on any news of Captain Nungesser and give every assistance in the search. The Parisians, who yesterday afternoon fought for copies of the newspapers containing the report of Captain Nungesser's success, quickly gave way to -despair and a huge crowd at midnight at the Place d’Opera made an immense bonfire of the newspapers containing the erroneous report.— A. and .N.Z. NAVAL SEARCH TO BE MADE FESJCH ADMIRALTY DECISION By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 10.50 a.m. PARIS, Tuesday. At the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting, M. Leygues, Minister of Marine, announced that the Admiralty had been instructed to assist in the Nungesser search. Torpedo-boats, submarines and seaplanes are preparing to leave Cherbourg.—A. and N.Z.-Sun.-