FATAL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26095, 24 April 1950, Page 6

FATAL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT

WRECKAGE LOCATED ON SATURDAY

ATTEMPT AT RAISING TO-DAY

The Harvard training aircraft that crashed into the sea off Birdling’s .Flat last Wednesday was located late on Saturday afternoon lying 1200 yards off shore. This morning it may be brought to the surface with the aid of the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s tug LytteL ton. Before midday on Saturday an object was discovered by those searching the sea for the aircraft, but it was not until late in the afternoon when the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s diver, Mr M. Cornish, had made investigations that the location of the aircraft could be confirmed. A hemp rope attached to the aircraft was connected to a buoy to mark the spot. As soon as the aircraft’s position was known discussions were commenced by radio between the Navy and Air Foree as to the best means of lifting the plane.. An Air Force spokesman said that it was just too far off shore to allow its recovery to be handled from the land and yet it was also pot far enough out to enable heavy sea-going craft to get over the spot. Recovery operations were suspended yesterday pending the movement of gear from Lyttelton. The tug Lyttelton, which has lifting equipment, was due to sail from Lyttelton at midnigfit last night, and should be off Birdling’s Flat at 6 o’clock this morning. An endqgvour will be made to lift the plane this morning. The Harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion) said last evening that a lot depended on the position of the aircraft and whether the lines the diver had run round it would hold. The main object of the operation was to lift the aircraft so that the bodies of the two men aboard the plane could be recovered, added Captain Champion.