PLANE STRUCK SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 99, 23 October 1942, Page 3

PLANE STRUCK SEA

ACCIDENT INQUEST

LOSS OF TWO OF THE CREW

(P.A.) NELSON, October 22. An inquest was held today regarding the deaths of two members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Pilot Officer Dean Rainsford Horrocks, aged 20, and Sergeant Vincent Charles Hill, aged 23, in an aircraft accident. The Coroner's verdict was that both died at sea, death being due to drowning after a period of shock and exposure following an aircraft accident when a plane struck the sea. The Coroner said he wondered why launches were not sent out earlier, but it was not for him to make comments on some aspects of the case. No doubt they would be inquired into by the Air Force and such action as might be necessary would be taken. Flight Lieutenant William Allison said that the plane left the aerodrome on exercises, piloted by Pilot Officer Horrocks. The crew consisted of Warrant Officer Colway, Sergeants Chappell, Stevens, Bryson, and Hill and Aircraftman Davis. He heard of the accident at 4.5 p.m. and immediately organised an aerial search. Twentyfive minutes later the first plane sent out reported people struggling in the water.

A pensioner, Benjamin O'Brien, told how he was watching an aircraft flying low over the water and heard the engine give an uncanny roar. He could quite plainly see the plane afterwards on the water. It floated for about half a minute and then disappeared. It appeared to glide in on the water and not to nose in. RESCUE BY FARMER. Gordon Douglas Rowling, a farmer, who saw the plane disappear into the sea, gave evidence that with a Mr. Fauchelle he rowed a dinghy out to the scene several miles off-shore. After they had been rowing for some time a plane came over and began to circle the actual spot where they later came across three men in the water. All three were pulled into the dinghy, one dying shortly afterwards. The Coroner congratulated the witness on his prompt action. It was quite likely that through it he had saved life.

Ernest George Dudley, a fisherman, described going to the scene in his launch at 5 p.m. Witness agreed that had he been sent out at 4 p.m. he could have reached the scene half an hour ahead of Rowling. He knew of no reason for the delay. His launch was not one of the launches included in the sea rescue service of the Air Force.

Warrant Officer James A. Colway explained that he was a member of the crew which went out on exercises. Everything went well and they had completed the exercises and were winding in the gun preparatory to returning to the aerodrome. He heard a loud bang at about 3.45 p.m. while he was in the nose. They were flying at about 40 feet above the water. From previous experience in England he knew that a propeller had struck the water. Immediately the plane began to yifrrate and at the same time the engine revolutions increased. He knew then that the pilot was trying to gain altitude. He then went back to the pilot and heard him say, "Prepare to abandon aircraft." He was then still at the controls. The plane climbed to about 200 feet. Next time he looked out the plane was losing height and going towards the sea. The pilot was wearing a life jacket. When he saw them in the water he knew that at least five of the crew had life jackets He himself was not wearing one and he was the last to leave the plane. He tried to release the dinghy that was carried on the plane, but was unable to do so as the plane was sinking. The plane floated for about 30 seconds. PLANE COMES OVER. When he got free all the others were floating about in the water. They were talking to one another and about 10 minutes later he heard the pilot say that one was missing. He decided to try to swim for the shore as he had no life jacket. While in the water he was accompanied by Hill and another sergeant. At about 4.15 a plane came over and dropped a life jacket which he swam to and got. Later a plane dropped a rubber dinghy, but he was unable to reach it owing to the wind and tide. He was later picked up by a dinghy. He had then been in the water about two hours. If it had been possible to have got the dinghy from the plane it could easily have supported all the crew. There was sufficient time after the plane struck the water to launch the dinghy if it had been attempted immediately. He thought they were five miles out when the accident happened. As far as he knew no one was hurt when the plane hit the water. *

Squadron Leader J. Bush explained the organisation of the sea rescue service, which was put into operation immediately the accident was reported. Owing to the state of the tide there appeared some difficulty in getting a launch out of the nearest coastal port. A launch from a greater distance was called out at 4.30 p.m. Life jackets were issued to all air-crews with instructions that they were to be carried when in the air. The aircraft dinghy was subject to regular inspection and testing had proved that it was capable of supporting 10 men.