JUNGLE ADVENTURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4408, 23 October 1934, Page 1

JUNGLE ADVENTURE.

AEROPLANE ON TREE TOP. NEW GUINEA AIRMAN’S FEAT. When flying over thick and almost impenetrable jungle between Lae and Wau, New Guinea, some time ago, Mr L. H. Ross, a Guinea Airways pilot, who arrived' in Sydney lately on furlough, was forced to make* a pancake landing on a tree top. The engine of the aeroplane cut out as the result of an airlock. Although Mr Ross was 2000 ft. up ho could not see any land ahead suitable for landing, so he selected a group of trees which appeared to be a good “landing” spot. The machine hit the highest spot, which was a tree 167 ft. in height. The aeroplane was held securely between the branches. Mi 1 Ross and his passenger waited in the machine for an hour, and signalled another aeroplane, which saw their plight, and reported the accident at Lae. After the aeroplane had answered the signal, Mr Ross and the passenger decided to descend the tree. They climbed down by hanging to creepers, wlich gradually lost their strength as they reached nearer to the ground. When still about 60ft. from the ground the creeper practically “faded out,’ and they found it impossible to proceed further until the rescue party arrived. They clung to the tree for more than an hour.