AIRMEN RESCUED IN ANTARCTICA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25299, 26 September 1947, Page 7

AIRMEN RESCUED IN ANTARCTICA

Members of British Expedition

SEARCH BY U.S. PLANE

(N.Z. Press Association— Cosrrtgtot) (Rec. 11.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 24. The three British airmen from Major K. S. Pierce-Butler’s British Antarctic expedition, whose Auster aeroplane crashed in a forced landing, are now safe after nine days’ exposure to severe Polar weather, according to ComMiPder Finn Ronne, leader of the American Antarctic expedition. The Ronne exposition s Norseman aeroplane sighted toem waging towards their base, which was 30 miles, or about 10 days’ travel, distant. Ttie American pilot. Captain James Lassiter, landed in a very small space and Sicked up the men, who had beenliyig on an emergency ration limited to 600 calories a day for each man. The Britons struggled a few miles a day against blizzards and through knee-deep slush, dragging toeir supplies in their aeroplane’s belly tank. They had no sleep for the last few nights, because their sleeping bags were just chunks of iceFear was first felt for the Bntons when the Auster failed to keep a rendezvous on September 15 with an American aeroplane at Cape Keeter,

tons and Americans were to ba stored supplies for a projected trail Party. _ _ The British pilot, Mr W. H Thompson, said after the rescue that ms aeroplane landed at the rendezvous and the crew began marking out a strip with orange flags for the American aeroplane. The American aeroplana was flying so high, however, that it failed to see the strip or the Auster. The Britons then had to take off because overeast conditions were closing in fast. They had to fly on instruments, which is particularly difficult Jn the Antarctic. The pilot made a mistake in choosing a bearing and then headed for Marguerite Bay, having decided to land as soon as possible and sleep overnight beside the aeioplane. Crash on Ice When the Auster reached the bay. visibility was down to 100 yards. Tlie aeroplane hit a rough break in toe ice. One ski broke off, and the aircraft toppled over and ripped off a wing and broke its back. The crew were shaken but not injured. They immediately pitched tent beside the aeroplane and attempted to «et in touch with their base with a small radio, but the transmitter was damaged and would not work, though they could hear their base calling them. Next day the Britons removed the belly tank and converted it into a rough sled for hauling emergency gear and food. They knew their approximate position and how iong it would take to reach their base, and accordingly limited ttieir rations. They bad little hope of rescue, since they were well off their course. They gradually became weaker as they trekked against blizzards of 60 to SO miles an hour. They sighted a seal at the end of the fifth day but were too weak to kill it immediately. They rested a few minutes and then, while one man threw snow in the seal’s eyes to divert it. another stole up behind it and killed It with a blow over the head, xbe Britons ate the seal’s still-warm liver raw. and immediately felt new strength. Meanwhile, both the Ronne and the British expeditions searched intenairely, and eventually the Norseman aeroplane found the tost men. The Britons at first did not realise that they had been seen. They hurriedly struggled to light their last red smoke-bomb, and only when the American aeroplane turned to land did they realise they were saved.