MISSING ’PLANE NOW FOUND.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 330, 11 January 1937, Page 5

MISSING ’PLANE NOW FOUND.

FEDERATION MACHINE Flyers Walking Towards Ohakune. Press Association—Copyright. Paimerson North, To-day. Advice has been received a® the Milson Aierodrome by telephone from Karioi, that the m'se ing ’plane has been located | in the Kaimanawa Ranges. It appeared to have made a forced landing but was in am uprjght position. No sigh was seen ot the occupants, who apparently left tie stranded machine and struck across country. Ten ’planes were continuing the search for them to-day, using Palmerston North and Kari o t a« bases. , , • •

The missing machine was sighted during an early morning reconaissance by Major McGaffin, of the Manawatu Aero Club. It was sitting upright and apparently is not badly damaged. Its location is in the bed of the Waipapihi River, about 15 miles east ot Mount Ngaruahoe at an altitude of 4,000 feet.

On receipt of this advice at the Karioi base, two machines set out to drop food beside the stranded ’plane, though there is still no sign of the two occupants, Messrs W. and P. Potaka.

It has also been arranged to send two machines to Tokaanu as a ground party is being organised there. The other machines are remaining at Karioi In the meantime. The position of the stranded 'plane is five miles east of the Prison Camp, and it is intended to fly members ot the ground search party over the spot to enable them to view it before setting out across country.

It is considered that the missing men might have grave difficulty in finding their way out unassisted. The search is expected to prove arduous, as the country is very rugged and heavily timbered.

A mesage received 'at 2J30 p.m. stated that a brief message had been received iat. the Milson Aerodrome from Ohakune to the; effect that ®he biicsing fliers had walked out Into open territory and were proceeding along the desert read at the southwestern end. One has a blackened eye and the other head (injuries, but otherwise both fare well. There ere no further details.

A search for a missing Western Federated Aero Club Moth aeroplane ZK—ACH, with Mr Potaka as pilot and his cousin, Mr Pine Potaka, as passenger, reported missing by the Wanganui Aero Club on Saturday, is being conducted from Karioi, 10 miles north of Waiouru, where the aeroplane was last seen at 3.45 o’clock on Friday afternoon, flying high at about 5000 feet. The search was joined this morning by seven aeroplanes including two from the Manawatu Aero Club, one from the Wairarapa Club, three from the Western Federated Club and the Marlborough Aero Club’s Waco. They made an intensive coverage ot the area from the Main Trunk eastwards to the Kaimanawas and over the southern slopes of the Ruapehu area. The search to-day was also extended north over the Rangipo Desert as far as the southern shores of Lake Tauqpinion is held among Searchers that Saturday but were unable to do much on account of bad weather, only one entering the area where the missing machine is thought to be.

TARANAKI HELPS.

’Planes From New Plymouth

And Hawera.

Thyee Western Federated Club’s machines engaged in the search Jor the missing ZK—ACH left New Plymouth and Hawera on Saturday afternoon. Messrs C. Plumstree (pilot) and G. Boon (observer) in ZK—ACZ, and Messrs A. Salter (pilot) and K. Martin (observer), in ZK—ABP, left the New Plymouth airport at about 4.30 o’clock in the afternoon for Palmerston North and the club instructor, Flying-Officer lan Keith, went from Hawfra in the machine ZK—AAX.

Private advice received at New Plymouth last night showed that the opinion is heir among searchers that the missing machine may be found in

the heavily wooded, rough country ot the central range. In view of the altitude of 5000 feet at which the machine was last seen flying hopes are high that the pilot may have been able to select a suitable landing ground upon which to glide down in the event ot engine trouble. The three continue in the search to-day.