WITH WOUNDED MAN

Evening Star, Issue 22359, 8 June 1936, Page 14

WITH WOUNDED MAN

AEROPLANE LANDING IN DENSE FOG MACHINE BADLY SMASHED OCCUPANTS PRACTICALLY UNHURT [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Juno 7. An aeroplane which went to Porter’s Pass to-clay to pick up an injured man and bring him to hosiptal crashed in a clover field off Middle Lincoln road to-day. Leslie B. Pierr, of 153 Strickland street, a meniber of a deer-stalking party at Porter’s Pass, was accidentally shot in the stout dch to-day, and Ins friends telephoned for an aeroplane. Air S. A. Gibbons, pilot-instructor to the Canterbury Acre Club, left in a Fox Moth about noon with Air R. S. Taylor, builder, of 63 Wairarapa road, as a passenger. Another aeroplane went with him. Gibbons landed safely at Porter’s Pass, and took Air Pierr on board on a stretcher. The accompanying aeroplane returned and landed safely at Wigram Aerodrome about 3.30, hut soon afterwards the weather, already very thick and foggy, became much worse. At the aerodrome Mr Gibbons’s aeroplane could be heard overhead more than once. The pilot was obviously searching for the landing field, but could not find it, and those on land were unable to signal him. Ho came lower in search of the open field, but so thick were the fog and mist that lie could not see the ground until only a few feet from it. He struck heavily on one wing, just missing two haystacks. Air Gibbons was unhurt. Mr Taylor received head and face injuries, but after treatment at hospital was sent home in the ambulance. Air Pierr, already in a grave condition, was shocked in the accident, but seemed not to have suffered any other hurt. His condition is very serious, The aeroplane was so badly smashed that it will probably be a total loss. It bad been in the possession of the Aero Club for about two years, and was recently overhauled. It was valued at £1,400.