Capt. Musick, Pioneer Flier; First Officer Sellers, Noted Ex-Pilot of C.N.A.C., Among Missing Page Page, Samoan Islands, Jane 13.
FFICERS of the U.S.S. Avocet returning here at 6.15 this morning reported that no bodies or trace of bodies from the missing Pan-American Samoan Clipper could be found. Bits of wreckage and personal belongings floating on the surface of the water indicated that the plane had exploded and sunk at a spot in the ocean more than 1,000 fathoms deep and where the entire surface of the sea was covered with bits of wood and paper from the plane's interior A pair of trousers with a bent tie clasp in the pocket, a coat bearing the Pan-American insignia and the radio operator's coat full of jagged holes were the only remaining clues to the fate of the airmen.
The trousers were believed to be the property of the Assistant Engineer Officer, Mr. J. A. Brooks. The torn coat of the radio operator led investigators on the Avocet to believe that the Samoan plane exploded while conducting Mx. Cecil G. Sellers, First Ofllcer of the huge plane, was a pilot for the National 'China Aviation Com~ pony before the Sino-Japanese has {ilities and in 1936 was the personal pilot of Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek. "While with the China Aviation, Company he flew the Shanghai to 'Mankow. route, 'Mr, Sellers' brother Hamilton re~ ported from Memphis, 'Tennessee that the Samoan' Clipper officer eeeived the distinguished service cerers in the World War for his heroism during bombing fights France. He was born at Memphis und during his. scheat career"
Sewanee University. was q member the Sewanee football. team.
Debris AM Broken Smatt Further "evidence regarding the oecupmts of the plane could not be yethered at the spot as none of the Moating debris "from the planes struelure was larger than six inches Tong. A. section of the chart board und a book of navigation tables, However, were recovered by' the searching party, the. footing debris was probably not exactly above the spot where the wreckage sank "because of a strong ocean current and a Tight southwest. wind.
The Avocet took tp the search when a plane dispatched from the Island inthe afternoon failed find the Pan-American airliner clipper's navigator, telephone. Her voice broke after she said, "Thank. you."
'OMcials of the Pan-American Airways Indicated to-day" that Would continue to operate the Honolulu-New Zealand route des-pte the wrecking of the Samoan Clipper—-United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.