Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-27
FORDP|L0T SOUGHT
ASPLANE |SFOUND
Wrecked Machine Is lowed
Ashore on Florida Coast.
Planes Aid Search.

By the Associated Press.
SEBASTIAN, Fla, February 27.-The
Ford fliVver plane which disappeared
into the Atlantic Ocean Saturday night
off Melbourne vas toWed ashore near
here this morning. No trace was found
Of the body OF Harry Brooks. who was
plotting the plane when 1t disappeared.
The plane was badly damaged. One
wing had been entirely torn off by the
waves and the fabric Of the other wing
was stripped The propeller was broken
and the fuselage wrecked.
The plane was loaded on q truck and
brought into Sebastian.
Search for Body Continues.
The search for Brooks body contin-
ued. with airplanes looking over the
scacoasts and beaches, and boats search
cd the sea. Motor cycle officers pa
trolled the beaches The sea. which pre-
vented boats from going to the wrecked
plane yesterday, continued rough this
morning
Examination Of the strap by which
Brooks was said to have fastened him
self into the plane when he left Titus
Vile Saturday offered no clue as 10
whether he disengaged himself before
the crash. The battered condition of
the fuselage made this means of de-
termining the pilots exact fate impos-
sibIe. 1t was generally believed, how
ever that he had time to free himself
before the plane fell.
Almost total demolition OF the body
Of the plane oblitcrated any other
indication which might have been
found Of Brooks actions before and
after the drop
While search for Brooks body went
forward with vigor. fishermen familiar
with such matters ventured the opinion
that it should be brought in by the
tide this afternoon. If ever. They said
that If the body did not wash ashore
by high tide at 3 o'clock this after
noon 1t probably never would be found.
Ford officials said the plane wgs
washed ashore and was found early
this morning by motor cycle police
man patrolling the beach.
Plane Badly Damaged.
The right wing Of the plane was
dismantled by the Ford rescue party
in order 10 get it on the truck The
cowling was beaten OFF the engine. evil
IDENTIFY BY the waves. but the engine
appeared 10 be In good condition. The
fabric appeared to be in fairly good
condition and the word Ford was
easily decipherable under the right
wing.
The undercarriage was broken of
and the wheels Of the plane we're of.
The plane was located three miles from
here across the Indian River and one
mile up the beach from the inlet. The
Ford rescue party was headed by r. H.
Southern Of the Ford agency at jack
sonvillc and Sam Banter Of the same
agency at Fort Lauderdale They ST.
perintended the transfer Of the wrecked
r. er from the beach 10 the truck
for removal to Jacksonville.
Brooks started from Titusville in the
little plane Saturday 10 complete the
fight from Detroit. which had been in
! terrupted on beach IL miles north OF
TituSyiIle when ne was forced down by
leaking gas line. The propeller was
broken in the descent into the sand and
1t was necessary 10 send to Detroit foE
another
The aviator had planned TO fly from
Miami TO Fort Myers 10 report 10 Henry
Ford at his Winter home. Brooks had
said at Titusville that the small plane
was practical success. His distance
from Detroit TO that point he estimated
at o25 miles, q record for planes OF this
type. He said he had averaged IS miles
an hour III the fight and had consumed
about ~ gallons of gas on the trip.
Seas Hamper Search.
Brooks was seen as he passed over
Melbourne Saturday afternoon, His
plane had gone only a short distance
out 20 sea when ii was seen 10 suddenly
nose down and disappear.
Efforts 10 find the plane and It's oc-
cupant were begun Immediately. but
rough seas prevented thorough search.
Seaplancs were called en- for help and
yesterday AT noon they located the
plane 4 miles north OF Sebastian. !.
mile of shore. with the tip OF one wing
exposed The plane appeared 10 bc il.
a buoyant position. Two fishermen took
of III sea skiN 10 the scene and at
tempted 10 get a line around the ex-
posed wing. but were forced back by The
roughness Of the sea and the fear that
they would capsiGe their craft