FLYING TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 300, 18 November 1940, Page 8

FLYING TRAGEDY

PILOT’S BODY RECOVERED. ARDUOUS JOURNEY IN RANGES. Camping on Saturday night near the wreckage of the Oxford plane which crashed in tho Tararua Ranges on Thursday night and was located on Saturday, a police and Royal New Zealand Air Force party brought the body of the pilot of the machine, Pilot-Officer Thomas E. Kirk, of Onehunga, out to Scott’s Road, Tokomaru, on Sunday, arriving back in the city just as tho weather broke with severe rain conditions from the south.

The missing machine, with the charred body of the pilot in the remains of the cockpit was five miles back in the ranges. After shearing away twelve large trees oil a ridge, it had lost one engine, shed its wings and nosc-divcd into a gorge beyond. A fierce fire had resulted and burned a fair amount of hush in the vicinity as the aviation spirit ran down the hillside.

An inquest was opened before the Coroner (Mr A. J. Graham) yesterday and, after evidence of identification was taken, was adjourned. 'The machine was first sighted by Flight-Lieutenant Matheson from the air and was subsequently found*by Mr D. Honore, a settlor, who led a party back into the ranges. The party took four hours to reach the scene of the crash, a trail having to be blazed through the hush. On arrival there at dusk the party lighted a big fire and camped as best they could, the night being fortunately fine. When dawn came the path of the machine could be observed from the smashed trees.

Official photographs were taken of the scene and preparations made for bringing out the body. Four hours were required again for the journey mid at the top of Scott’s Road Mr A. Anderson provided refreshments. Had the storm conditions come down when the party were still in the ranges their task would have been considerably greater, because the nature of the terrain makes for arduous travel. TRIBUTE TO SEARCHERS.

The Inspector* of Police (Air H. Scott) to-day paid a tribute to the willing and efficient service rendered hv the many volunteers who joined in the search for the missing plane, at no small sacrifice to themselves in loss of time, apart from the strenuous nature' of the task of searching in such rugged and difficult country. “Where everyone did so well and rendered such signal service it is undesirable to make distinctions, but it is felt a word of special thanks and np-! predation is duo to Air David Honore for his invaluable assistance,” Mr Scott . said. “He commenced the search with the police party on Friday, and after remaining in the bush all night and getting thoroughly wet through, he returned on Saturday afternoon, after a strenuous and fruitless search, to the nearest habitation, where he was met by the second party under the charge of Constable Chapman. This party consisted of several experienced hunters and Hampers from Palmerston North, accompanied by Squadron-Leader Matheson (who had spotted the missing plane from the air), and a number of Air. Force personnel. Air Honore immediately volunteered to retrace bis steps and guide the party through the bush to the spot where the plane had been sighted, which he did. But for his bush-craft and expert knowledge of the locality it is doubtful if the party would have been so successful in finding their way direct to the spot. “The party reached the missing plane at dusk on Saturday and were obliged to camp all night in the bush. The homeward journey on Sunday was slow and laborious, the body haring to be carried through tho bush on an improvised .stretcher, and the party were all grateful when the road was reached.”