REPORTED MISSING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1942, Page 4

REPORTED MISSING

UNION AIRWAYS PLANE FAILURE TO REACH NELSON FROM WELLINGTON. THREE PASSENGERS ON BOARD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Referring to a report that a Union Airways Lockheed plane which left for Nelson this morning had not reported at its destination by 1 p.m., the Defence Minister (Mr Jones) said that, as far as the Air Force was concerned, arrangements had been made for a high-speed launch to go to Tasman Bay to make a search, and aircraft would be available as soon as the weather cleared. The Lockheed left Wellington at 7.35 a.m., and was due at Nelson at 8.15 a.m. She carries three passengers—Mr W. H. Moore and Misses A. Farrar and P. Fell. Their addresses are unobtainable at present, but ail booked at the Wei-, lington office of Union Airways. The commander of the plane is Mr Keith R. Johnston. The second officer and co-pilot is Mr William Smillie. The plane was last reported at 8.17 a.m., up to when it had been in constant radio contact with its base. At that.time it was about due to land. The position is believed to be somewhere south-east of Nelson, possibly at Tophouse. It is ‘ understood that the petrol supply was sufficient to have enabled flying till 11 a.m. Weather conditions between Blenheim and Nelson were foggy. A Nelson message states that one of the passengers, Miss P. Fell, is a resi-. dent of Nelson.