Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-01
NAVY TRAILS CLUES
TO MISSING FLYERS
Search Pilot Reports Sight
ina Oil Slick on Surface
of Bay.

Every possible clue which appears
authentic is being followed diligently
by the Navy In It's efforts to obtain
information concerning the missing
Ellyson plane. which disappeared Mon
day morning during flight from
Hampton Roads naval base to An
napolis.
Surface craft from Norfolk and York
town are being modified today In the
vicinity Of Horn Harbor. about miles
from New Point Comfort Lighthouse
and close to the Wolf Trap Light
house. in Chesapeake Bay. where they
will drag In the hope Of finding the
missing plane. which carried three
naval aviators--Comdr. T. G. Ellyson.
Lieut.. Comdr Hugh Schmidt and Lieut..
Rogers Ransehousen.
Rear Admiral r. E. CoontZ. COM
mandant of the fifth naval district al
Norfolk. who Is directing the search
said that authentic information had
been received that the missing plane
came from the eastward at 2:30 O'Clock
Monday morning in the direction OF
Horn Harbor. 1t was flying low and
subsequently headed to the northward
Engine stopped.
According to three witnesses. the en-
CINE Is reported to have stopped about
three minutes after 1t was observed by
them near Horn Harbor.
The surface craft have been directed
to drag the waters within a radius OF
five miles OF Horn Harbor In the hope
of finding some trace OF the plane. In
an effort to determine whether others
in the vicinity had any information
concerning the ship. personnel have
been assigned to interview people living
within the same radius.
Planes also will be used to ny over
this area to ascertain whether the snip
came down on shore.
Another understanding operation
will be carried on by craft from An
napolis in the vicinity OF Mountain
Point, which Is on the south end OF
Gibson Island. in the Chesapeake Bay
not far from the entrance to the
Severn River.
Aviation Pilot Mold reported that he
had observed an oil slick IS feet in
diameter inside of Mountain Point at
3 o'clock Yesterday afternoon.
Admiral Coontz reported to the Navy
Department that the following plan
had been put In effect today:
The Langley Field unit will fly over
the Nansemond River. Hampton Roads
and off the coast OF Virginia Beach. to
a point Is miles south of the naval
base.
The flyers from the Marine base at
Quantico have been directed TO fly owe.
both sides OF the Chesapeake Bay. Dc
tween ATTITUDES 81 degrees IS minutes
and 80 degrees.
The flyers from the Anacostia naval
base have been instructed to survey
both sides OF Chesapeake Bay. between
ATTITUDES 80 degrees and minutes and
81 degrees and AZ minutes
Flyers from Boiling Field will take the
area on both sides Of the bay between
SO degrees and a. minutes and 80 de.
grecs and 20 minutes.
Many Planes In Hunt.
All of the more than two-score planes
which participated In the search yes
terday will be In the air today, accord
ing to Admiral Coontz. He said the
plane from Lakehurst. N. j.. had cover.
ed the area assigned to 1t without re.
suit. and again today would comb the
same area. The planes from Anacostia
according to Lieut.. Comdr Homer c
Wick, commandment OF the naval air
station, LETT there at 8 o'clock this
morning to resume the search. A land
plane assigned to Lakehurst left Ana
costa today at 8 O'Clock for Aberdeen. To
resume the search In that vicinity.