Missing

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 935, 31 March 1930, Page 11

Missing

AUSTRALIA-ENGLAND FLYERS Smith and Shiers Down SHORT OF FOOD IN ROUGH COUNTRY THE two Xew South Wales airmen, D. Smith and H. W . Shiers, who were about to hop off from Australia to England, are missing. On the way from Newcastle Waters to Wyndham, Northwest Australia, they were forced down in rough country, and search parties have so far failed to locate them. They are reported to be short of food.

United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10.5 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. Advice from Wyndham concerning the airplane City of Sydney is disquieting. The flyers, D. Smith and H. W. Shiers, who were on their way to Wyndham preparatory to taking off on a flight to England, were within

about 50 miles of Wyndham when they were forced to land in wild country beside the Ord River. They managed to find a stretch of hard, barren ground and came down without damaging their machine. Their wireless installation was working efficiently and they were able to report the mishap. The airmen were not hurt. In a message from the plane at two o’clock yesterday afternoon Smith and Shiers obviously indicated that they were considering a dash for the nearest station. At that period their food was low, hut water was plentiful. As the machine carries no receiving set, the airmen do not know whether their messages are being received. Many search parties are out, one since 3.15 p.m. on Saturday and another from daylight on Sunday. A posse from Wyndham returned and reported having gone 30 miles past the spot where the men were supposed to have landed. Wyndham received a wireless from the plane at 6.15 p.m. yesterday statyig their batteries were low and they appealed for food to be sent immediHealey’s party, which has returned,

searched the ea3t side of the Ord River. Observation is difficult in a motorcar owing to the long grass. The party has been sent to search the other side on horseback. Healey thinks an airplane will be necessary to locate the position. A message received through Amal-

gamated Wireless says the monoplane should be seen easily from the air. It is believed that the forced landing was made on the Carlton reach of the Ord River., between Ivanhoe and Argyle Downs, south-east of Wyndham.

FORCED DOWN PIPER AND KAY STRIKE ENGINE TROUBLE . BRISBANE, Sunday. Flying-Officers Piper and Kay landed at Longreach yesterday afternoon. They had a good trip from Winton. The airmen left Longreach this morning, in continuation of the flight, to Sydney, hut engine trouble developed, and they were forced to land three miles out from township:. They worked all day on the engine, which was dismantled. They expect to complete the overhaul tonight, and to resume the journey tomorrow, and to arrive at Sydney on Wednesday.