CRASH IN RIVER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 10

CRASH IN RIVER

OKDEAL OF AIRMEN TRAPPED IN COCKPIT FORTUNATE RESCUE MADE [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Sept. 28Two members of the Royal Austra. lian Air Force, Pilot-Officers W. Alshorn and G. J. Quintan, were trapped in their cockpit when a Gipsy Moth training machine, the engine of which had failed, hit a telephone wire 200 ft. above the water and crashed into the Hawkesbury River, not far from the Richmond Air Force aerodrome. In spite of injuries, they fought their way to the surface and clambered to the tail of the aeroplane, where they awaited rescue by men who had rowed out in boats. Mr. Quintan said the engine cut out and the aeroplane struck the wiry when they were looking for ground to make a forced landing. "We were flying dual control," he said, "and just managed to scramble from the cockpit in time. I cannot remember anything after we hit the water. It was a 'black-out'." Mr. Frederick Hearrfe was working on his property near the river and heard two loud reports when the aeroplane was about 200 ft. above the water. He looked quickly at the aeroplane, the approach of which he had noticed casuallv earlier, and saw that it was crashing toward the centre .of the river. Jt seemed to strike the water with tremendous force. "There was a great splash," he said, "and practically all the aeroplane disappeared beneath the suriace. My brother and I raced for our beat. As we ran we could see about two feet of the tail sticking out of the water. The crew could not be seen. Ihey were in the cockpit, trapped beneath the water. Fortunatelv, the machine had struck a shallow shoal. There are places where it would have sunk, completely but the nose aparentlv buried itself m the sandbank in the centre of the shoal. Ihe two men on board must have suffered a terrific jolt. , , "We rowed with-all our strength and B aw a head suddenly bob up out of the water. At first that man seemed in a bad wav. Then another man appeared, and they helped each other. Ihey climbed to the tail, and clung there until we and other rescuers reached them They were lucky to escape with their'lives. Apart from facial wounds and shock, they appeared none the worse for their terrifying experience. The aeroplane, when salvaged, was almost a wreck. The propeller had been 'mashed by the force of the impact SSi the water. The wings were crumpled and thtf cockpit smashed.