LOCATED FROM AIR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1945, Page 6

LOCATED FROM AIR

LAUNCH AND MISSING MEN RESCUE SERVICE IN ACTION O.C. WHANGAREI, this day. The Royal New Zealand Air Force Air-sea Rescue Service was brought into operation in the Far North on Monday to locate two men missing on a fishing trip, according to information released by air headquarters in Wellington. Aircraftman (one), C. E. Hare and Mr. W. Lisham, a P. and T. Department employee, both of the air station near Kaitaia, went fishing in the lower reaches of the Awanui Harbour in Mr. Lisham's launch on Sunday morning. When they did not return on Monday the Air-sea Rescue Service was called, an unsuccessful search by launch being made. Concurrently a Ventura aircraft searched the harbour area, and just before midday located the launch aground at Rangiputa, 15 miles down the harbour. Guided by the aircraft a Walrus amphibian plane alighted on the water, picked up the two men and returned them to their station.

It is revealed that on the lower reaches of the harbour, the launch became disabled when the main shaft snapped, and it drifted seawards. It was not until the turn of the tide late in the evening that the men managed to run aground. They then walked five miles to the nearest farmhouse, where they obtained equipment with which to repair the launch. They worked on the launch until 10 p.m. and when sighted from the air next morning had effected sufficient repairs to enable the launch to move under its own power.