Globemaster Guided In

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 14

Globemaster Guided In

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 19. A Royal New Zealand Air Force Bristol freighter played a major role in finding a United States Air Force Globemastei when it was lost today with its navigational instruments functioning erractically on a flight from Pago Pago to Christchurch. Following instructions from the search and rescue centre which was set up at Whenuapai, the freighter got In touch with the Globemaster over Opotiki and guided it to Whenuapai. The centre was set up immediately the Globemaster’s skipper, Captain C. E. Croy, radioed for emergency facilities because he was uncertain of his position at a minute before 3 p.m. His situation was further hampered by one of the aircraft’s four engines backfiring.

In an effort to “fix” his position, Captain Croy brought his aircraft down to 900 feet in blinding rain where he sighted an island which he could not identify. At this height he lost radio contact which was regained when he climbed away from the area for fear of crashing into high ground. An hour and 20 minutes

after the emergency was declared, the freighter took off from Whenuapai under the command of Flight-Lieutenant A. D. Winkleman who was directed by the centre to fly south to Tauranga. By this time another freighter, two Canberras at Ohakea and two Sunde Hands had been alerted by Group Captain R. K. Walker, commanding officer of the R.N.Z.A.F. Maritime Wing, who was in charge of the operation. Radio stations in Rotorua, Tauranga and Napier were receiving the Globemaster’s transmissions.

Fifty minutes after take-off the freighter picked the Globemaster up over Opotiki with its ultra-high-frequency radio and fired Verey cartridges. Flight-Lieutenant Winkleman gave Captain Croy a bearing for Whenuapai which he followed on his mechanical compass. The main gyro compass on the Globemaster also operates the aircraft’s automatic pilot and automatic direction finder. When the Globemaster was between 80 and 100 miles from Auckland radar picked it up and gave directions. It landed safely at Whenuapai soon after dark.