TWO LIVES LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25022, 12 October 1944, Page 4

TWO LIVES LOST

AIKCBAFT ACCIDENT PLANE SINKS l"N HARBOUR (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Two members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force are missing, believed drowned, as the result of an aircraft accident between. Chelsea and Birkenhead, Auckland, yesterday afternoon. They are:— Flying-Officer John Lillie Marshall, son of Mr W. Marshall, of Auckland. Flying-Offlcer William Leslie Morrison, whose wife is Mrs J. Morrison, of Wellington. The aircraft, a Walrus amphibian, was taking off from the water on a training flight when it was seen to nose over and go straight under. The third member of the crew, Lead-ing-Aircraftman L. E. Wliitefield, of Auckland, was rescued uninjured. The aircraft was taking off near Chelsea when the accident occurred. Lead-ing-Aircraftman Wliitefield was seen to jump clear as the machine turned over and sank quickly. He was picked up by a. United States Army steel tug which was at hand, and a ferry steamer leaving Birkenhead for the city also went to the scene. Two high-speed Royal New Zealand Air Force launches, the commodore's barge from the naval base and a larger Air Force launch were ouickly on the spot, and with the aid of another Walrus which circled over the area searched for the sunken machine. Light debris was seen floating toward NorthTlie position of the sunken aircraft has been found and buoyed. The bodies have not been recovered. _ A further search will be conducted this morning. Aircraftman Wliitefield was taken to the Auckland Hospital, but was able to return to his station after receiving tiVtmcnt at the casualty ward.