Bomber’s Forced Landing on Sea

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 296, 15 December 1939, Page 7

Bomber’s Forced Landing on Sea

MACHINE DAMAGED; PILOT UNHURT Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. Through engine trouble which has not yet been diagnosed, an Air Force Baffin bomber, one of three engaged in a crossstrait and cross-country navigation flight, had to make a forced landing on the sea in Island Bay at 12.30 this afternoon. Pilot Officer S. G. White, of Woodburne aerodrome, the only one in the machine, was unhurt and did not even get wet. The engine failed off Palmer Head but picked up temporarily and the pilot turned to return to Rongotai with the machine. Ho circled for a short time without landing but tho motor failed at a height of about 500 ft., too low to enable the machine to glide either to the aerodrome or the beach. Residents of Island Bay say tho bomber made a perfect landing, just as if it were done in normal circumstances, about two miles from the shore. Mr. L. Meo, an Italian fisherman returning in his launch from the Terawhiti coast, went out to the plane and the pilot told him lie was all right. Another launch, the Nanena, w r hose skipper is Mr. Rafael Creco, brought the pilot ashore. Three fishing launches were used to tow the bomber in to shore but because of the strong head wind and the fact that the machine was a dead weight, having rapidly all but submerged, progress was slow. At an early stage of the tow the machine turned turtle and at least an hour was occupied in bringing it to witliin 400 yards of the beach. Endeavours were then made to bring the tail over so that the bomber could be hauled in on her wheels and considerable damage was done in the process. Several attempts were necessary before tho machine was brought ashore.