Mid-Atlantic Drama: Flying-Boat With 69 Occupants Down At Sea

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1947, Page 7

Mid-Atlantic Drama: Flying-Boat With 69 Occupants Down At Sea

N.Z.P.A—Reuter—Copyright (Recd. 11 a.m.) LONDON, October 14. A Boeing flying-boat carrying 69 persons, including a crew of seven, was forced to land in the Atlantic today because of lack of petrol. The aircraft landed near a weathership 1400 miles west of Eire, but' winds of gale force and heavy seas up to 35ft prevented the transfer of the passengers. . Most of the 62 passengers were British emigrating to or. visiting America. American Flying Fortresses carrying life-boats took off from Argentina and Harmon field, Newfoundland, for the scene while other rescue aircraft in the Azores stood by. ‘ A ; message was received stating that the flying-boat was riding well and the weather conditions were such that the airliner could withstand them indefinitely. Earlier reports from the air control at Prestwick airport, England, said that radio messages, presumably from the weathership, stated that the flying-boat had been lashed to the weathership. The flying-boat had passed the weathership when it was decided to descend. The Boeing turned back, but had only enough petrol to get within two miles of the ship.

The flying-boat left Foyues shortly after midnight last night for Gander. The 62 passengers included children. The Boeing, which belonged to American International Airlines Ltd., was carrying the greatest number of passengers ever flown across the Atlantici

• The captain of a trans-Atlantic land-plane on arrival at Prestwick said the Boeing was almost exactIv in the middle of the Atlantic. “It made- a dandy landing despite, the heavy sea,” the pilot added. Tie saw the Boeing taxi to near’ the weathership, whose crew put out floats. They heard the Boeing pilot on the radio calmly saying: “Everthing is 0.K.”

Navigational Aid The Boeing had navigational assistance from a Canadian transAtlantic Skymaster, which watched as the Boeing came down near the weathership. Another Skymaster also circled, watching the landing. Air Ministry reports received through Prestwick said the Boeing’s hull was undamaged. Agencies later reported from New York and Gander that the Boeing hoped to disembark its passengers to the weathership if the seas • abated. The reports suggested that the Boeng’s hull might not stand the battering of the waves too long. The weatherships are controlled by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. They are equipped to deal with aircraft in distress. This is the first occasion one has been called on. A message from St John’s (Newfoundland) says that United States Coastguard vessels are reported to

be taking the Boeing’s passengers and crew off the weathership. This is the first news received in London that the Boeing’s complement of 69 was aboard the weathership.

Agency reports in. London quoted the United States Coastguard as saying that 10 persons had been rescued from the flying-boat. Reports from Shannon say that 50-miles-an-hour winds are blowing in the area where the Boeing landed. A meteorological station described the weather as bad.

Passengers Being Taken Off

A message from the weathership, which is the United States . Coastguard cutter Bibb, received in London tonight, said: “Darkness is approaching. The passengers are mostly prostrated with seasickness. Wind of gale force and a rough sea.” The coastguard is taking the passengers off the flying-boat, using a lifeboat and raft.

Among those rescued was a baby, who appeared to have withstood the ordeal better than the other passengers so far rescued. Reuters quotes the assistant pilot of a trans-Atlantic plane who saw the Boeing land on the heavy sea a»s saying there was a tremendous splash. The whole flying-boat seemed to disappear under the water and then reappeared like a whale through the spray. The flying-boat radioed a message: “We are O.K. Will .taxi to the weathership.” . The weathership dropped a DOUlt line supported by life-jackets, and as the trans-Atlantic plane continued its flight to Prestwick, the flying-boat was closing in to tie up. The radio officer of a Skymaster which landed at London airport said the pilot of the flying-boat made a miraculous landing in very heavy sea in a 60-miles-an-hour wind.