DOWN AT SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 137, 7 December 1944, Page 5

DOWN AT SEA

U.S. FLYING-BOAT

SEARCH BY N.Z. AIRCRAFT

(R.N.Z.A.F. OfflcraJ News. Service.)

SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC, Dec. 5. Aircraft of two R.N.Z.A.F. bomber squadrons took part in a search for a United States Mariner flying-boat which, with one motor crippled, was reported to be forced down at sea at a point north-east of the Kapingamarangi or Greenwich Islands, about midway between the Carolines and the Bismarck Archipelago. A New Zealand Ventura, captained by FlyingOfficer A. W- H. Faulkner, of Dunedin, sighted the flying-boat after penetrating a severe tx-opical weather front, but the previous arrival of a United States destroyer, which took the aircraft in tow, made unnecessary any attempts at rescue.

Information that a Mariner flyingboat—used by the United States for transport purposes—had landed on the sea when one of its motors cut out, was received at a field headquarters of the New Zealand Air Task Force. Her approximate position was given, and R.N.Z.A.F. Venturas, which have performed creditably in many, reconnaissance patrols over the sea, were ordered for a before-dawn take-off. Ground crews of a New Zealand servicing unit worked late into the night preparing the aircraft, and when the first grey streaks of dawn "were in the sky the first of three Venturas had already begun its 330-mile ocean patrol. An aircraft of another R.N.Z.A.F. squadron, which has just arrived to continue its Pacific tour in this area, followed, and it was this aircraft, with Flying Officer Faulkner as pilot, which located the distressed flying-boat. BUMPY CONDITIONS. Some miles from the spot where the aircraft was supposed to be located a 100-mile tropical weather front was encountered. Flying Officer Faulkner piloted his aircraft into this front and continued the journey in spite of rain, poor visibility, and bumpy conditions. He was.in the middle of the front, "stooging" around at 600 feet, when he saw the Mariner under tow. The fly-' ing-boat had landed on the water and taxied for some distance on one motor before being picked up by an American destroyer. Perhags the most disconcerting moment for the New Zealand ■ crew was when their aircraft neared the American vessel, for it was realised that poor visibility and dark cloud would give the ship little chance to [recognise her identity and she might I well-be .taken for a hostile aircraftI But recognition signals were later [exchanged, and the destroyer and its ttow were covered by New Zealand Venturas until the weather forced an early return to base.