PLANE MISSING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1940, Page 5

PLANE MISSING

FAILURE TO GET BACK TO WIGRAM AFTER EXTENDED HEIGHT TEST. SEARCH BEING CONTINUED TODAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. April 12. Leaving Christchurch at 2.30 p.m. tc day in. a northerly direction for s 15,000-feet height test, a Fairey-Gordor biplane from Wigram aerodrome whose marking number was N.Z.621 failed to return at its scheduled time ol 4.30 p.m. and was still missing at a late hour tonight. The biplane was piloted by Aircraftsman W. Raphael, a pilot undergoing training at Wigram. He was accompanied by Leading Aircraftsman W. Everist. A search was instituted for lhe missing plane when it failed to return but no trace of it was found. The search will be resumed early tomorrow morning. What is believed to be the missing biplane was seen over Ashburton shortly before 3 p.m. by Mr John Johnson, Harland Street, Ashburton, who was working in a field al Winchmore at the time. His attention was attracted to the biplane by the unusual way in which it was flying. It was at a very high altitude and a big cloud of greyish-black smoke was issuing from its side. It appeared to be circling and turned in the direction of Christchurch but. afterward reversed its course and headed toward Timaru. After five minutes, however, it turned north once again and disappeared into a heavy storm. When Mr Johnson saw it again. it was about, eight miles north of Ashburton and seemed to be making a gradual dive toward the ground. He was able to identify it as a Fairey-Gordon biplane but. was unable to distinguish its marking number becouse of the height aH which it was flying. The Wigram aerodrome authorities think that the biplane seen by Mr Johnson may be the missing one but are unable to make any definite statement.