SEA EXERCISE FOR AIRMEN

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27859, 6 January 1956, Page 8

SEA EXERCISE FOR AIRMEN

SURVIVAL PROBLEMS DINGHIES TO BE CAST-OFF IN PEGASUS BAY To experience some of the difficulties of survival at sea. 50 or 60 airmen at Wigram, some of them senior officers, will in a few weeks put off from a naval launch in Pegasus Bay in one-man. four-man, and seven-man rubber dinghies. The exercise will, be in two parts —one part for Wigram staff and the other for students of No. 30 pilots and navigators’ course, which will start at Wigram this month. It is thought that the exercise will be the biggest of its kind ever held in New Zealand.

The object of the exercise is not to test endurance. Its organisers wish the participants to learn to appreciate the difficulties of survival at sea. “If they know, they will be much better able to meet the difficulties and hardships,” said the officer commanding the flying wing (Wing Commander G. R. Brabyn) yesterd&y. “They will learn how the sun reflects on the water and what it feels like. They will get an idea of the vastness of the ocean, and they will learn how helpless they are in the wind and current. They will learn to work together in difficult conditions with team spirit, and it will be a good test of good leadership.” Airmen will be put into the sea at a place from which they will have a reasonable chance of reaching a beach through the surf in a few hours. If the weather is rough on the dav the exercise is to be held (no day has yet been fixed) the exercise will probably be held in Lyttelton Harbour.

Those who will take part have been swimming regularly in the Wigram bath wearing normal flying equipment and inflatable life jackets. Types of Dinghies Three types of rubber dinghies will be used. The elongated K type is for one man. and carries certain stores. It is inflated by hand or by a carbondioxide cylinder. It carries distress cartridges, a heliograph, ground-air code, a compass, emergency rations, a hood, mast, and sail. The threeman M type is dropped from an aircraft, and its equipment includes emergency rations, torches, canned water, and a fluorescent sea marker. Although the circular J type dinghy !s designed for only seven men it is able to carry 10 without sinking. This dinghy has a weather cover, a radio beacon searching aircraft can home on to, and apparatus for making fresh water from sea water.

Among unit commanders who will take part, will be the officer commanding the Flying Training School [Squadron Leader B.- F. N. Rachinger. D.F.C.), who is at. Wigram on exchange from the Royal Australian Air Force.