PLANE BROKE UP IN THE AIR

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1949, Page 3

PLANE BROKE UP IN THE AIR

P.A. PALMERSTON N.. Feb. 18. An inquest was held to-day into the deaths of Flight Lieutenant. C. R. Bush, aged 30, of Gisborne, Warrant Officer H. G. Rennie, aged 23, of Tolaga Bay, and Aircraftsman R. G. Roper, aged 21, of Petone, who lost their lives when an Oxford plane crashed in the Ruahines on November 30. while on a photographic flight between Ohakea and Napier. The evidence showed that the machine was perfectly airworthy when it tool: off. The weather forecast did not anticipate any undue disturbances over the route.

The Coroner commented that the case was a most unfortunate one. It was almost impossible to arrive at any conclusion as to what happened. It was evident, that the plane had not crashed into the mountainside, but it appeared that, rough weather, or some mysterious disturbance had occurred and the machine had disintegrated. The verdict was "accidentally killed.”