DOWN IN THE SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25021, 11 October 1944, Page 4

DOWN IN THE SEA

AUCKIiANDER'S PLANE

RESCUE OFF WEST AFRICA (Special Correspondent) (P.A.) LONDON, Oct. 0 Faced with a decision that possibly meant life or death, eight R.A.I 1 . personnel, commanded by Flying-Officer Maurice E. McGreal, of Auckland, afloat in a dinghy after their Sunderland had crashed in the Atlantic, 140 miles off the coast of West Africa, made a rapid choice that finally resulted in. rescue. ~ _ It was Flying-Officer McGreal s 13th sortie in West Africa and the 13th of the month when they set off on antisubmarine patrol. Two hours later two of the engines spluttered and died and the aircraft was forced down in a lieavv swell. The Sunderland broke its ibnek and filled with water in five seconds. Wireless Operator Lost Warrant-Officer S. Wrigley, Taranaki, and Sergeant D. Jones, Swansea (Wales) were washed through a hole in the side of the hull. Pilot-Officer Bu'dd, Wellington, was trapped inside, but the fuselage broke and he came to the surface. In the words of another New Zealander in the crew, the wireless operator, also from New Zealand, gave his life for the crew. He was sending out SOS calls when the plane hit the sea and he was knocked out and drowned.

Pilot-Officer Budd and Sergeant .Tones were left standing on the tailplane. They were 50 yards from the dinghy when the tail sank. Pilot-Officer Budd was dazed and injured, and Sergeant .Tones could only just keep him up. The second pilot, from Auckland (unnamed), swam with Flying-Officer McGreal to hold Pilot-Officer Budd who was found to have a broken wrist. They drifted all night in the dinghy, huddled together for warmth. The Fateful Decision When dawn broke a shark was circling around the dinghy. They hit it with the dinghy mast. Then someone threw an oxygen bottle and it sheered off. Twice they saw planes but they were too far away to signal. They were without food or water and were under a pitiless sun. They had been adrift for over 20 hours when they sighted a plane circling eight miles away. They managed to save one distress signal and one smoke float from the wreck, but the air was hazy and if they used them and were not seen their last hope would have gone, but if they saved them in the hope of a better chance, another piano might never conu' Flving-Officer McGreal said: We had a pow-wow. We decided to wait for a better chance. It was pathetic to see the spirits of the chaps fall as the plane faded out of sight, but two hours later we knew we were right. Another plane appeared and when three miles away we fired our signals and were seen." NUMBER THIRTEEN REMARKABLE RECURRENCE Not onlv was Flying-Officer McGreal rescued after his Sunderland flyingboat had crashed into the sea while making its 13th sortie on the 13th of the month, but he also commenced his earlv training at Levin on January 13, 1940, he travelled from Auckland in seat number 13, and left New Zealand on September 13, 1940. Since that date he has seen service with the No. 75 Bomber Squadron, flown Catalinas on Coastal Command work in Britain, and is at present on anti-submarine patrol operating from West Africa. The youngest son of Mr and Mrs J. McGreal, of Valley Road, Flying-Officer McGreal, who is 26, was educated at the Weymouth School, Manurewa, and Sacred Heart College. He attended the Auckland Teachers' Training College and was teaching at the Te Papapa school when he volunteered. A brother, Flving-Officer J. T. McGreal, is a Mosquito bomber pilot in England. SOLDIER IN POLAND FIRST NEWS SINCE CRETE (0.c.) HAMILTON, Tuesday For the first time since May, 1941, ,\lr and Mrs R. R. Paterson, or Peachgrove Road, Hamilton, have received direct information concerning the whereabouts of their son. Private Douglas John Paterson, who, according to information received from the Polish Ministry of the Interior, is in Poland. Private Paterson was missing after thu Crete campaign. A cablegram received by his parents reads: "In Poland; doing fine. See you soon." FARM % WORKER KILLED DRAGGED UNDER CART (P.A.) WANGANUI, Tuesday Fatal injuries were suffered by Mr Roderick Newport, aged about 60, when he was dragged under a cart on the property of Mr L. C. Anderson, at Parihauliau, about 14 miles from Wanganui. Mr Newport was working with a cart drawn by one horse on a liillside about 300 yards from the homestead. Nobody saw the accident, but it is presumed that Mr Newport was riding on the shaft, overbalanced and fell under the vehicle. His arms became entangled in the reins and he was dragged some distance. Mr Newport was dead when found by Mr J. Thompson, a roadman. STRUCK BY CAR BOY SERIOUSLY INJURED A boy, Richard Oscar George, aged 14, son of Mrs L. A. George, of 1380 Dominion Road. Mount Rosldll, was knocked down by a motor-car in Dominion Road last evening. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital with a fracture of the right leg and other injuries. His condition last night was reported to be serious. WORK OF PARLIAMENT TWO NEW MEASURES (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Two new measures, the Milk Bill and an Imprest Supply Bill, were introduced in the House of Representatives today. The first-named is a comprehensive enactment dealing with the control and distribution of milk and city and town supply. Urgency was taken for the Imprest Supply Bill; under which a wide range of debate is open to members. Full advantage was taken of this latitude, but the main smbject discussed was the lend-lease agreement between the Dominion and the United States. The bill, which provides financial accommodation for State services up to about the end of November, authorises expenditure totalling £21,356,000. The bill was passed just before the House rose at 10.43 p.m. until tomorrow afternoon, when Estimates will be discussed.