SUNDERLAND HITS REEF
R.N.Z.A.F. Flying-Boat At Papeete
(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 10.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force Sunderland flying-boat struck a submerged reef while taxi-ing at Papeete early yesterday morning.
The aircraft stuck fast to the reef, but none of the crew or passengers was injured. The flying-boat was taking British scientists to an area where scientific equipment is being installed for the impending atom bomb tests.
The aircraft was beached, and an examination showed minor damage to the hull, including a nine-inch hole in the planing bottom and several broken spars. An R.N.Z.A.F. flying-boat will Lauthala Bay, Fiji, this morning carrying materials and mechanics to repair the damaged Sunderland.
The repair crew are members of the Air Force contingent stationed at Lauthala Bay in preparation for the hydrogen bomb tests. The damaged aircraft is housed in a French Airlines hanger at Papeete. A second Sunderland will leave Lauthala Bay tomorrow morning to take the scientists who were passengers on the damaged plane, to Christmas Island.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28250, 11 April 1957, Page 9
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169SUNDERLAND HITS REEF Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28250, 11 April 1957, Page 9
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