Evening star., 1947-09-24
Hope Grows Simmer
For ; British Flyers
Missing in Antarctica

Missing in Antarctica
By Comdr. Finn Rome
(copyright, 1947, North American News
paper Alliance)
RONNE EXPEDITION BASE,
STONINGTON ISLAND, MARGUE-
RITE BAY, Antarctica, Sept. 81 de-
layed.-Hopes for the rescue of the
three British flyers missing in the
icy, mountainous terrain near here.
grew Simmer today as blizzard
weather continued to hinder air and
ground search parties. However,
both the American and British ex-
petitions here are pressing investi-
cation of the regions where the flyers
are thought to have gone down.
Both groups cling to the hope that
favorable change in the weather
will permit a thorough search before
the emergency food supply of the
lost flyers runs out. So far there has
been no indication that the heavy
winds and thick overcast will clear
enongh to, aid rescue groups. Only
sporadic flights, under extremely
hazardous conditions, have been
made so far.
The three British flyers, identified
as w. H. Thompson, pilot; Bernard
Stonehouse, co-pilot and meterolo-
gist, and Reginald Freeman, sur
veyor, have been lost since Septem-
ber Is, when the small British Auster
plane they were aboard failed to
make rendezvous with the Morse
man plane of the Rome Antarctic
Research Expedition.
Weather Conditions Severe.
The two planes planned to meet
over a nearby 6,O00-foot plateau
and proceed to Cape Keeler 12O
miles away on the Weddell Coast to
cache supplies for a projected joint
British-Amertcan sledge party due
to leave September Is.
The winds and storms, which be-
gan the night Of the flyers disap-
pearance, made it impossible to send
out our two planes on reconnaissance
missions until September 18. Since
that time we have made both air and
ground Investigations, but the severe
weather conditions have prevented
complete combing of all areas.
On September 10, the overcast
and surface winds continued but
| 1t. Charles j. Adams went aloft in
our Stinson L-5 to survey the wealth
er. He reported it sufficiently good
for a flight by the larger Norseman
named IN. A. N. A." so the big plane
joined in the search.
The IN. A. N. A." flew 30 miles out
to sea and dived beneath the over
cast through an opening in the
clouds. The pilot, Capt. James w.
Lassiter, few south at low altitude
from Cape Joerg to Cape Rymill,
which lies beyond Cape Keeler. He
maintained slow speed and care
fully searched the area around every
mountain, island and iceberg. But
Capt. Lassiter was unable to fly
north over Mobiloil Bay and Flem-
ing Glacier due to heavy ground fog.
After a 31z hour fight he returned
to our base and landed safely in a
0-mile-per- r-hour surface wind.
Fleming Glacier Investigated.
With one area eliminated, it was
decided by Maj. K. s. Pierce Butler,
chief of the Falkland Islands De-
pendencies Survey here and leader
4uf the search, to send surface
HpArty Of three men 10 miles north
Of Cape Joerg in Mobiloil Bay, to
act as q field and weather station.
The three men were transported by
the MANA" and landed with a
30-day food supply. On the return
trip the crew of the MANA investi-
gated the Fleming Glacier and the
imile- high plateau without success. I
! Today the MANA few to the
Mobiloil Bay base with another load
of supplies, including fuel for the
Stinson LIS to operate locally. The
winds continue high at our base
and both our planes were tossed and
buffeted in takeoffs and landings.
There is no wind in the immediate
search area, however, SO the clouds
and fog remain. The hope Is to
operate under this overcast
On the flight back to our head
quarters base, Capt. Lassiter and 1t.
Adams covered the general area as
we'll as possible under the weather
conditions. These Army pilots have
done an outstanding search job
under extremely hazardous condi-
tions marked by high winds and
poor visibility. They have flown over
dangerous terrain with glaciers,
steep mountains and crevasses ev-
erywhere. If the flyers were COM
peeled to make forced landing, 1t
might prove disastrous.
Ground Squad Sent Out.
On the ground, another search
squad has been sent out. A motor
lied weasel with crew composed of
Charles Hassage, and William
Latady of the Rome Antarctic Ex-
pedition, and J. Butson of the Falk-
land Islands dependencies survey
was sent to scout the Neny Glacier.
But the three men encountered 30
mph. winds which prevented them
from even lifting their field glasses
The winds grew so great that the
weasel was blown over on its side,
Immediate ground search in that
area was obviously impossible.
Since the Auster's disappearance
six days ago, the entire personnel Of
AnvERTSENFENT