AIR MYSTERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 304, 15 March 1928, Page 11

AIR MYSTERY

Is Girl Flyer With Missing Airman on Daring Ocean Flight ? CAPTAIN HINCH CL IFFE ’S FATE OINCE Captain Hinchcliffe hopped off from Cranwell Air- . . ®f.°me at 8.45 a.m. on Tuesday on an attempt to fly the Atlantic nothing has been heard of him. Authorities in eW ivr UnC ” a bandoned hope at noon yesterday. Mystery surrounds the identity of the airman’s companion Messages from New York refer definitely to the Hon. iisie Mackay as accompanying Captain Hinchcliffe, but London cables indicate that there is a doubt whether she or Mr. Sinclair Gordon is in the missing ‘plane. By Cable.—Press Association.—C opy right.

Reed. 9.45 a.m. NEW YORK, Wed. "M'O report of Captain Hincheliffe and the Honourable Elsie Mackay had been received late this afternoon. There are fogs between Newfoundland and New York. According to a message from St. John, Newfoundland, marine and other authorities at noon to-day abandoned hope that the flight of Captain Hincheliffe and the Honourable Elsie Mackay could succeed. The plane had been gone 33|: hours from the Cranwell Airdrome, and the machine should have flown far beyond Newfoundland, even against unfavourable winds. Two uncredited reports that the plane was seen in the vicinity of St. John have been disregarded. Since the weather is clear it should have been seen plainly. The sealing fleet, which is 150 miles east-north east of St. John, reports that nothing has been seen of the flyers. Weather conditions are good along the whole coast with the exception of heavy fogs on the Maine coast. Yesterday members of the Stinson Corporation, which built the plane, stated that It was sold to Captain Hincheliffe with the understanding that it was to be used for a flight to India and not to America, for which flight its normal petrol capacity was hardly sufficient. Air landing fields in New York and Philadelphia were made ready to receive him in case Captain Hincheliffe decided to fly direct to the United States. > MYSTERY COMPANION A cable from London on Tuesday said:- —There is a mystery concerning Captain Hinchcliffe’s companion. It was freely rumoured on Monday evening that Viscount Inchcape’s daughter, the Hon. Elsie Mackay, is the passenger, but Mrs. Hincheliffe says she thinks a friend of her husbands, Mr. Sinclair Gordon, has accompanied him. The “Daily Express,” however, definitely states that Miss Mackay -went with Captain Hinchcliffe. Lord Inchcape is at present in Egypt, consequently only the members of his staff are at Ills London residence. In answer to Inquiries they stated that as far as they knew Miss Mackay was busy with her preparations to go to Egypt. They expected her to return home last evening. It Is now stated that Miss Mackay stayed at a hotel in Grantham on Monday night, presumably in order to be able to reach the Cranwell airdrome early yesterday morning. Captain Hinchcliffe's agent is one of the most surprised people. He says he received a message at 10.30 a.m. yesterday saying Captain Hincheliffe had left Cranwell at 8.45 a.m. He rushed to the airdrome in a motor-car. There he found a note awaiting him saying: "Have left on a transatlantic flight.” ONLY SMALL MACHINE The agent said that he had seen it stated that the Adventure was a large machine. This was a mistake. It was a small plane of only 220 horse-power. Mrs. Hincheliffe says she has no fears for her husband’s safety. Mr. Sinclair Gordon had long been his friend and they had flown together. The “Daily Express” says Mrs. Sinclair Gordon, who lives in North London, went to stay with Mrs. Hinchcliffe at Purley, in Surrey, for a few davs so that they might be together while their husbands were making their great attempt. Both women received letters from their husbands yesterday morning, but these made no mention of the fact that a start was imminent. Neither knew that Miss Mackay went with Captain Hincheliffe instead of Mr. Sinclair Gordon. The paper says only a night porter saw Miss Mackay and Captain Hinchcliffe leave the hotel at Grantham before their departure. They had prepared an assortment of rations with fruit hot coffee and other beverages in vacuum flasks. Miss Mackay was in flying costume with a thick leather coat and helmet. A large photograph in the Express” shows the two standing side bv side in front of the airplane Adventure. Miss Mackay is smiling and Captain Hincheliffe, with his hat doffed, looks serious. REASON FOR SECRECY Earlv yesterday morning Captain Hincheliffe inquired from the meteorological office at Cranwell as to the condition of the weather over the Atlantic. He was told it was tairlj eood It Is known that the machine carried sufficient petrol for 3,000 m On'the other hand Captain Hinchcliffe had frequently stated that in the event of his making a transatlantic flieht he would land at the Baldonnel air (Rome in Ireland, and that he had obtained official permission to do so One explanation of the secrecy of Captain Hincheliffe is that Jie machine was purchased on condition Sit he did not attempt a transatlantic flight in it, hut only a non-

stop land flight. Air Ministry officials state that very likely the fliers will experience a tail-wind, with good visibility for the greater part of the journey, though in the last stages they may encounter a head wind with snow, sleet and squalls. SIGHTED OVER ATLANTIC A message from New York says an amateur wireless operator reports having intercepted a message from the steamer Roussillon stating that another vessel four days out from Bordeaux had sighted a plane flying toward the west which was believed to be the Adventure. At Washington it is said that the weather conditions are favourable for Captain Hinchcliffe’s flight threequarters of the way across the Atlantic. The air is clear and easterlywinds prevail. However, storms, which will be most dangerous, are indicated for the time of the probable arrival of the machine at Grand Banks, Newfoundland. Rain and snow are expected at the Harbour Grace field. At present reports from there say the conditions are excellent and that a sheet of ice on a pond in the vicinity will afford ideal landing facilities.

COLLISION IN MID AIR FIGHTER SUCKED IN WAKE OF BOMBER TWO OFFICERS KILLED Reed. 9.15 a,m. LONDON, Wed. Sucked in the wake of a huge bomber with which it collided, a disabled Bristol fighter crashed 700 feet at Monston Airdrome. The occupants, Flying-Officer Mumford Matthews and Lieutenant Scott, were killed. The bomber alighted safely, in spite of the fact that both her propellors were broken. —A. and N.Z.