FLYING-BOAT TRAGEDY
HOPE ABANDONED.
WELLINGTON, June 16. The crew numbering seven and passengers numbering eight, of the Catalina flying-boat which was reported as missing on a flight on June 5, have now been officially reclassified as missing and believed killed. The plane was flying to New Zealand. . The reclassification is based on the recovery of, identified wreckage on Dravuni Island, some 50 miles south of Suva, and on the absence of any evidence to suggest the survival of the crew or passengers. The next-of-kin have been informed. The Prime Minister to-day expressed the deepest sympathy and that of the Government with the relations of the people involved. “All possible action has been taken to find the survivors; sea and air searches have been most thorough; but, unfortunately no trace of the crew or passengers has been found,” said Mr. Fraser. “An official inquiry has been held in Fiji, attended by all of the authorities, including representatives of the Air Department, and the findings show that the aircraft was in sound condition when it left for New Zealand, and that the accident can in no way be attributable to any action or negligence on the part of the shore.organisation. The loading of the aircraft was well below the maximum permissible. “It is clear, from established facts, that the flying-boat struck the sea during darkness, and was broken by the impact; but there is no evidence to show the primary cause of the accident. The crew were highly competent and experienced. The captain of the flying-boat, Squadron Leader McGregor, was regarded as one of the most capable and expert pilots in the Air Force. Although continued efforts will be made to shed some new light on the most regrettable loss, I fear that the cause may remain unknown. The record of our reconnaissance squadrons lor reliability has been of the highest, and the lost flying-boat, which only recently was flown out from America bv a New Zealand crew, was m first class condition and of modern design.”
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Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1943, Page 2
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335FLYING-BOAT TRAGEDY Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1943, Page 2
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