Canberra’s Emergency Halt

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29952, 13 October 1962, Page 12

Canberra’s Emergency Halt

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 12. A bird entering the port engine of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Canberra taking off at Singapore today caused it to swing so violently that the pilot called for the runway barrier to be raised—and the aircraft crashed into it at about 60 knots.

The braking set the wheels on fire.

No-one was hurt but the aircraft suffered superficial damage. The bomber, flown by Flight-Lieutenant R. D. Branks, of Invercargill, had built up about 118 knots in speed on its take-off run at the R.A.F. station at Tengah when the bird was seen to enter the port engine

The loss of power caused the aircraft to veer sharply but the pilot maintained con-

trol by closing the throttle and using rudder and brake.

He called for the runway barrier and the control tower raised the nylon barrier up into position. The aircraft door was jettisoned to let the crew escape but the Canberra was stopped on the overrun. The accident occurred at 2.55 p.m. New Zealand time. The Canberra belongs to No. 14 Squadron, normally based at Ohakea, which is at present exercising with the Far East Air Force. Damage to the port engine has not been assessed yet. Flight-Lieutenant Branks was one of the R.N.Z.A.F.’s Vampire aerobatic team a few years ago. His navigator was Flying Officer H. A. Bunn.