Desert search under way for British premier's son

January 14, 1982

A full-scale search was under way Wednesday for British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's son, Mark, missing with his co-driver in the Sahara while taking part in a 10,000-mile auto race.

In Paris, French defense officials ordered three military aircraft to join the hunt for the two, who failed to arrive at a checkpoint on the Algerian-Mali border during the race from Paris to Dakar, Senegal.

Mr. Thatcher and his co-driver were last seen Friday, when they reported their car had broken down on the eighth day of the punishing rally. They told a passing driver they had stopped to repair a cracked rear axle.