“AWAHOU” BEING TOWED TO SUVA BY “DINGER”; PASSENGERS ON ‘LAKEMBA’

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1949, Page 4

“AWAHOU” BEING TOWED TO SUVA BY “DINGER”; PASSENGERS ON ‘LAKEMBA’

N.Z. Planes Keep Lengthy Watch

P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 12 The following signal was received by Air Headquarters, Wellington, this afternoon: “A Catalina intercepted the Government tug and the “Dengie” with the disabled motor ship “Awahou in tow at 12-.4 p.m. today. Ship radio failure due to batteries. Ship in no further danger. Aircraft returning to base.” It was reported earlier that contact with the “Awahou” which reported herself in a sinking condition, two hundred miles north of Fiji, had been lost, and the Catalina took off from Fiji to search. All the passengers had been taken off the “Awahou.” It is probable that a Takaka man, Mi' C. Henshaw was among th e passengers removed. LATER. The seven passengers aboard the former New Zealand coastal ship, “Awahou”, which was reported on to be in a sinking condition 200 miles north of Fiji, with R.N.Z.A.F. Catalinas maintaining a watch overhead, • have been safely transferred to a Carpenter Line vessel, the “Lakemba”. The “Awahou” has been taken in tow by the vessel “Dengei”, and all three vessels are understood to be heading for Suva, reports the R.N.Z.A.F. news service.

The “Awahou” is in no further danger, according to a message from the commanding officer at Lauthala Bay, received at R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters, Wellington, at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The patrolling aircraft are accordingly returning to base. The first Catalina, captained by Pilot D. B. Flintoff (Christchurch) took off at 4.5 o’clock on Monday morning to establish contact with the vessel at first light, but the “Awahou” was not in its given position. It was only after a search lasting more than three hours that the vessel was observed, and the flying-boat was overhead at 9.20 a.m. Pilot Flintoff maintained his vigil until relieved at 3 o’clock that afternoon by another Catalina, captained by Flight Lieutenant B. J. Oliver, D.F.C. (Whangarei). The sea was calm and the weather good, factors which had prompted the I Harbourmaster at Suva to advise IV/ing Commander R. Webb, D. 5.0., D.F.C., commanding officer at Lauthala Bay, that the ship’s complement would be in no immediate danger. The second Catalina remained circling the vessel throughout |the' night, guiding the motor vessel “Lakemba” to the scene until contact was established between the ships at 3 o’clock next morning. The sea was still only a gentle swell. With the dawn, the seven passengers, including two women, were taken off. Flight Lieutenant Oliver, whose continuous vigil had lasted almost 14 hours, returned to base at 5.20 a.m. The “Lakemba” remained alongside as the “Awahou” was taken in tow. The vessel then set a course for Suva. Radio contact wilh the “Dengei” and the crippled “Awahou” was lost later that day, the message continues, and the R.N.Z.A.F. was asked by the Harbourmaster at Suva if contact could be established again by air. Accordingly, at 10.39 this morning, another aircraft was despatched with Flying Officer T. M. Morcow (Christchurch) as pilot, and carrying the Harbourmaster and radio spares. It was expected that a pro’onged search would be necessary, as the last known position of the “Dengei” and the “Awahou” was advised at mid-day yesterday, but a later message states that the vessels were intercepted some 200 miles from Suva a few minutes after mid-day. The radio failure had been due to battery trouble on the “Dengei”, and the “Awahou” was in no further danger.