Divers’ Search For Bullion

Off Lae Aftermath of Drover Crash

THERE are mysterious features about the loss of the Qantas Drover plane in the sea off Lae, New Guinea, in July, when the following people lost their lives — The Bishop of Alexishafen, the Rt. Rev. Stephen Appelhans, 46, whose headquarters were at Madang. He was a native of Kansas, USA.

The Rev. Father William Bachus, 42. born in Brooklyn, New York, priest of the Morobe District.

First Officer John William Spiers, 30, pilot of the Drover.

Miss Helen Jean Connor, 27, of New South Wales, a recent arrival in Lae. She was engaged to marry: James Wilson Palmer, 37, a radio technician with Radio Telecom munications, Lae.

Miss Frances Tindale, 30, of NSW, a friend of Miss Connor.

Kenneth Charles Macdonald. 31, building supervisor at Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd.

The plane was making a routine flight from Bulolo and Wau to Lae.

The weather was not very good and, as he approached Lae, the pilot was asked to lay off for a little while. He swung off over Huon Gulf, southwards, and completely disappeared, without a word.

The control officials at Lae, be coming anxious when, after min utes, they could not locate the Drover, raised the alarm. A search plane soon afterwards located •wreckage on the surface miles south of Lae. Later, the bodies of Bishop Appelhans and Miss Connor were recovered.

In the following days, searching craft located the plane on the sea bottom, 10 miles south of Lae, at a depth of 100 feet.

The Drover had been carrying bullion from the Bulolo goldfields— about £35,000-worth.

The Drover was regarded as a sound and trustworthy plane, and she had plenty of fuel. An inquiry Into the accident is proceeding.

The generally-accepted theory is that, when the plane was banking for a turn over the Gulf, in thick weather, she was nearer the water than the pilot supposed, and a wing-tip struck the surface causing crash Although most of New Guinea passenger transportation has been by air for 20 years, and flying con ditions in New Guinea are far from ideal, the New Guinea air accident rate is phenomenally low.

Salvage Of Plane

FRST attempts by a diver to salvage the remains of the plane and locate the missing

£35,000-worth of gold were aban doned at the end of July. Early in August other divers and equipment were being flown from Australia to try again. This second attempt had been undertaken by the insurance company with which the gold was insured.

The wrecked plane lies not far from the mouth of the Markham where a continuous flow of water pours into the Huon Gulf. This has helped disintegration of the plane.

The first diver found no trace of the five bodies nor of the missing bullion.

The second party of divers re ported that they entered the fusel age of the plane on August 9, but found no trace of passengers, or bullion.

It is now presumed that when the plane hit the sea, the bottom was torn out and passengers and cargo were scattered.