RESCUE FROM SEA

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 123, 19 February 1944, Page 7

RESCUE FROM SEA

N.Z. Flyers’ Fine Job (R.NIZ.A.F. Official News Service.) BOUGAINVILLE, February 15. Ten American flyers, marooned at sea on three life rafts, were brought to safety in the first rescue mission carried out by a New Zealand flying-boat since the R.N.Z.A.F. Flying-Boat Squadron moved up to the Solomons Islands area The rescued men were the entire crew of a United States Liberator bomber The New Zealand Catalina was flown by a skeleton crew of seven, including a doctor. . , ~ . A report having been received that the Americans were adrift, the R.N.Z.A.F. flying-boat was dispatched to the position, and flew for one and a half hours before sighting another Libera* tor circling over large patches of green sea marker. Approaching closer, the New Zealanders saw three rafts with men aboard. Though the sea was confused with cross swells, the Catalina alighted safely and drifted back to the rafts. The U.S.'flyers were taken aboard, made as comfortable as possible, and treated ior minor injuries and shock. Flying a Catalina off the open sea with a heavy swell is always a hazardous undertaking, and the New Zealand fiy-ing-boat bumped along the angry water for a time, hitting one crest which bounced the big craft nearly 50 feet before it thudded down again. Eventually, sustaining a little minor damage which occasioned the crew no undue concern, the Catalina took off and flew back to the base.