MYSTERY NO LONGER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 449, 3 September 1928, Page 9

MYSTERY NO LONGER

FATE OF AMUNDSEN WRECKAGE IDENTIFIED NO HOPE FOR PLANE CREW (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z Press Association.) (United Service) LONDON, Saturday. A message from Tromso, Norway, says that, on the evidence of its. blue and grey colour and its copper patches, the seaplane float found by the crew of the fishing boat Brook near Vann Island, in the Vesteraalen group, has been identified. It belonged to the- seaplane of the Frenchman, Major Guilbaud, on which Captain Roald Amundsen left Norway in June to search for the Italia castaways. The fishermen took the float to Tromso, to which port the French cruiser Strasbourg proceeded in order to definitely identify, the wreckage. There were pathetic scenes at Tromso when the float was examined in the presence of the French Consul, Norwegian officers and officers from the French ship Durance. It was identified as part of Major Guilbaud’s machine. A comparison with photographs confirmed the identification. Friends who saw Captain Amundsen off say they recognise the float. Consequently as soon as those on board the cruiser Strasbourg definitely identify it all the searchers will be recalled. It is now believed that the disaster to the seaplane occurred midway between Norway and Bear Island, south of Spitzbergen. The examination of the' float suggests that the crew tried to fasten it to one wing more firmly, after their departure from Tromso. Captain Otto Sverdrup considers there is no hope that any of the crew of six men are still alive.