DEAD AIRMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20507, 25 May 1938, Page 7

DEAD AIRMEN

LATE KINGSFORD SMITH PART OF MACHINE IDENTIFIED WRECKAGE FOUND NEAR BURMA unite i Tress Assn. —Elcc. Tel. Copyrirftr CANBERRA. May 24 The aircraft wreckage found on the southern bank of Aye Island, near Burma, in May. 1937. lias been positively identified as portion of the Lockheed Altair in which Sir Charles Kings ford Smith and Mr J. T. Pethyhridge disappeared on their last lliglit lo \ustralia. Tin* announcement was made todnv l.v the Minister of Defence. Mr H. V. i'll orb y, who said the Lockheed Aircraft Corporal ion, Los Angeles, has positively identified the markings on Ihe oleocylindcr of the salvaged undercarriage as being those of Sir Charles' machine. Investigations of shellfish and marine growth on the wreckage by the Zoological Department of Rangoon

University had disclosed that the remainder of Ihe wreckage would probably be found at Ihe bottom of llie sea at a depth not exceeding 90ft., in close proximity in the spot where the salvaged material was found. Investigations by Ihe Burmese authorities are proceeding in the hope of locating the remaining remnants. Sir Charles lvingsford Smith and Mr Pcthybridge left Lympne for an attempt on the England-Australia record on November 0, 1935, but after passing over Calcutta on the following day they were not seen again.