Intermittent rain during the day with heavy low cloud at Illbilla and Taylor is now very concerned over the missing plane, if nothing is seen or heard by the 26th then Johns must head for Hermannsburg and contact Sydney and the authorities. Taylor spends the day carving the hard attractive mulga into pistol grips, the original grips were burnt in the fire at Ayers Rock. Johns is not edifying company.

The stranded airmen are wakened early by a very cold dawn, they continue their weary trek to the east and sight Mount Hay late in the afternoon. Hamre is becoming despondent and loses hope that they will be found. They spend a cold wet night in light rain, troubled by mosquitoes.

Christmas Eve is no excuse for a late start for Terry and his mates, all away by 8.00, good progress on old tracks until early afternoon when a recent storm has made for very heavy going in the truck, camels find difficult going in the intense heat and humidity. Early camp declared at 3.15 and rigged for wet weather, all out hunting for the Christmas pot but no luck, except two eagles are dispossessed of a headless rabbit, Biddy the camp dog will do well for the big day.

The men let their hair down after tea, a box of  forgotten fireworks are discovered in the truck, carried far to the west as a 'humane' way of discouraging aggressive Aboriginals. The lot are fired amid great fun, except for the dog she goes bush and does not return till next day. Then the medicine chest is raided for the medicinal rum and all partake to the last drop, all ills cured. A merry camp and game of bridge, Bill Bird, a fine raconteur, leaves his mates legless.