RNZAF Plane With Three Aboard Missing

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1948, Page 4

RNZAF Plane With Three Aboard Missing

NAPIER, Wed. (P.A.). —No trace has yet been found of an RNZAF Airspeed Oxford plane which is missing on a flight from Napier to Ohakea. The plane left Napier at 3.3 p.m. yesterday and was due at Ohakea 50 minutes later. The occupants of the aircraft were: . Flight Lieutenant C. R. Bush, DFC_, pilot of the aircraft, formerly of Wellington, whose wife lives at the Ohakea Aii Force station. • _ , Navigator I H. G. F. Rennie, son of Mr R. S. Rennie, of lolaga Aircraftman IR. G. Roper, photographer, son of Mr R. Roper, Victoria Hotel, Petone.

Bad weather over the Ruahine Ranges forced the recall this morning of most of the planes engaged in the search. Low clouds covered the mountainous area where the plane is believed to have crashed. Although 10 planes were recalled to Ohakea after searching for an hour and a-half, five others continued the the search in clearer, areas. 22 PLANES ENGAGED A total of 22 planes of various types, including low-flying ■ Austers, will be engaged in the search, working in relays. , . A detailed report of a plane being heard over the Ruahine Ranges yesterday afternoon was, received today by the air search centre, Wellington, from two deer cullers.

The report stated that they were operating south of Park’s Peak at 3.45 p.m. yesterday when they heard a plane irt what seemed to be a power dive.

The engine was “revving" noisily. At the time the men were on the Pourangaki Saddle, north-east of Rangiwahia, and near the source of the Tukituki River. The message added that there was wind and fog in the area this morning. The air search this morning covered the ranges from Norsewood to north of Tokokino. CONTACT LOST The machine had been on a photographic reconnaissance flight in the Gisborne area before reaching Napier. Soon after it left Napier the Ohakea Air Force station received a radio message from the plane giving it? flight plan. No further contact was made with the Aircraft. At the time of the flight towering clouds, strong south-westerly winds and a low ceiling, part of a frontal system which passed over the Norfh Island during the day, were general over the route. PLANNED COURSE After leaving Napier, the machinb was to have taken a course over the Whakarara Ranges and then to the west of Kimbolton. across the Murray River and over Halcombe to Ohakea. Flikht Lieutenant Bush married a Gisborne girl, the second youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs F. B. Bousefield. They have a fan f y of two boys aged four and two. "Flight Lieutenant Bush fought in the Battle of Britain in the squadron led by Wing Commander Bader, the famous legless pilot.