CRASH OF BOMBER

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 April 1943, Page 4

CRASH OF BOMBER

TRAGEDY ON HILLSIDE

NEW PLYAIOUTH, April 2.

The adjourned inquest into the deaths of Flight-Lieutenant J. H. Deans, of Bulls, Pilot Officer J. D. Philson, of Auckland, Sergeant W. H. Steel, of Wellington, -and Sergeant J. H. Power, of Okato, who died when a Hudson bomber crashed al Okato, near New Plymouth, on January 25, was continued to-day. Evidence was given by a signals officer that the aircraft was in touch with the ground wireless station and asked for signals. The aircraft called the station at 11.40 a.m. and after the signal strength was given the message began to come through, but stopped abruptly at 11.50. The aircraft was called repeatedly, but there was no response. At no time was assistance asked for and no distress signal was given. A farmer, James Andrew Williams, of Omata, said that about noon the fog was very thick over his paddocks. He heard the engine of an aeroplane in the fog. He then heard an explosion and about a quarter of a mile away he found the machine crashed into a hillside and burning fiercely. The occupants could not be seen for smoke and flames. ' Constable L. C. Lincoln said that from the position of the machine it was obvious that the left-hand wing tip struck the hillside. This slewed the nose round to the left into the hillside.

The inquest was adjourned sine die