AIR FORCE MACHINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 8, 10 January 1941, Page 8

AIR FORCE MACHINE

STRUCK POWER LINES

FELL INTO RIVER

(Special to the "Evening Post")

PALMERSTON N., This Day

When flying at a low altitude along the ManaAvatu River in* an easterly direction at 2.15 yesterday afternoon, a Vincent biplane from the Blenheim Air Force Station struck high tension power lines across the river about 300 y_~ . west of the. Whirokino bridge, near Foxton, tipped 'up,.and nose-dived into the river. One of the occupants was droAvned, but the other, believed to have been in the rear cockpit, was saved by the prompt action of a carpenter, Mr. Maurice Parsons, Avho was working on a neAv building on the riverbank nearby. The victims were.— Leading Aircraftman Kennard James Haasc, drowned. Next-of-kin, Mrs. H. Haase, 103 Kowai Road, Nelson. Leading Aircraftman Cecil William Holmes, cuts to face, abrasions, and possible internal injuries. Father, Captain A. Holmes, Defence Department, Hawera. Earlier in the afternoon two biplanes were over Foxton and passed southwards. It Avas one of these Avhich crashed. Mr. H. Hughes, who was haymaking with others on his property a couple of miles aAvay from the river, said that the plane which crashed crossed his property at a very low altitude, but did not appear to be in difficulties. Mr. Walter Neville? Avho Avas working on the south side of the river not far from the crash, said the plane struck the power lines and he saAv portions of the machine fall as it turned and dived into the river. THE RESCUE OF HOLMES. Several people rushed to the scene and Mr. Maurice Parsons, of Palmerston North, stripped off and dived into ihe river to see if he could do anything for the men in the plane, which was now almost submerged. As he reached the machine Holmes floated to the surface and he managed to bring him ashore, no mean feat with the strong current ' and the airman weighed down with a Avaterlogged parachute. Mr. Parsons then returned to the machine but was unable to locate Haase, who was evidently trapped in the nose of the machine, now several feet below the surface. An effort was made to secure the plane by means of fencing Avire, which Mr. Parsons managed to attach to the machine. . All pulled but the Avire gave way and before Mr. Parsons could SAvim out with a ' rope the machine had disappeared into the deepest part of the river. The power lines Avere completely severed. There Avere other witnesses of the mishap, including motorists travelling along the long Whirokino trestle bridge. One of these Avas Dr. Patterson, of Pahiatua, Avho rendered medical assistance to the airman who was saved. The latter was then dispatched to the Palmerston North Hospital. A detachment of engineers from the military camp at Foxton was dispatched to the scene to salvage the plane. They worked in the light of motor lomes when darkness fell and managed to secure the plane and drag it to the river bank, but there they met with a lot of trouble owing to the heavy growth of AvilloAvs and the precipitous nature of the bank. They managed to cut away the tail, leaving the front portion still three feet under water. When the power lines Avere struck the current Avas off, men being engaged in repair work.