Body of Hitchcock Thought to be Found

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 651, 1 May 1929, Page 9

Body of Hitchcock Thought to be Found

PARTY NOW RETURNING NO DEFINITE NEWS YET (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Reed. 9.5 a.m. SYDNEY, To-clay. A message from Wave Hill states that there is no news yet from the land party at the Kookaburra plane; but as the party lias been seen returning to Wave Hill, it is assumed that Mr. R. S. Hitchcock’s body has been found. Flight-Lieutenant Eaton, who leads the land* party, is apparently unable to communicate with the airplanes concerning the land party’s discoveries, owing to the unsuitability of the country for airplanes to land. It is further assumed that it has been found impossible to fly Captain Keith Anderson’s plane back to civilisation, as was Lieutenant Eaton’s intention.

It is considered unlikely that there will be any news of the land party’s discoveries until it reaches Wave Hill in a few days’ time, unless in the meantime a suitable landing-place is located for Flying-Officer Ryan’s plane to come down and intercept the ground party. Flying-Officer Ryan and other Air Force aviators flew out to rhe locality again yesterday to try to obtain news. They communicated with the land party by dropping notes from their airplanes. Replies were made from the ground by Lieutenant Katon by means of calico sheets spread ro represent code letters. The Southern Cross and the air liner Canberra are now being completely overhauled, repaired and reconditioned.