AIRCRAFT OVER BUSH FIRES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24798, 12 February 1946, Page 4

AIRCRAFT OVER BUSH FIRES

MOVING PICTURES TAKEN

TEMPORARY ENGINE FAILURE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 11. The life of a newsreel cameraman is often an adventurous one, but an experience that befell Mr Roger Mirams when obtaining pictures for the National Film Unit of the Taupo fires at the week-end is one that he will not soon forget. Both Mr Mirams and the pilot of a Harvard aircraft, Flight Lieutenant F. P. Ladd, R.N.Z.A.F., of Hamilton, narrowly escaped with their lives when over the flames on Friday afternoon.

The engine of the machine failed because of the smoke, and for a few moments it seemed that it would have to land in the flames. “If that had happened,” said Mr Mirams, who returned to Wellington yesterday, ‘‘we would not have had a chance. We had been flying low, from 1000 to 500 feet. I was anxious to get as near as possible to the fire to secure the best shots of it. Trees were blazing below us, accompanied by clouds of smoke. I was busy at my work when suddenly I heard the engine splutter out. It seemed as if nothing could save us from landing right in the flames. “However, the pilot very pluckily worked at his controls, and then to our relief the engine came to life again, and we got out. We were so low that it would have been impossible for either of us to use our parachutes.” Mr Mirams, who is not long returned from active service, said that he saw no sights during the fighting in Italy that compared with “the show at Taupo” at the week-end. The National Film Unit’s technicians are now working overtime recording and developing the films that Mr Mirams secured, and it is hoped to have them screened this week.

Mr Mirams commented upon the severity of the airpockets when over the fires. “Every now and then we would receive a wollop,” he said. “On one occasion I nearly lost the hand camera which J was operating. ’ ’