FORCED LANDING IN PADDOCK

Southland Times, Issue 24055, 20 February 1940, Page 4

FORCED LANDING IN PADDOCK

Air Force Machine At Winton SUCCESSFUL TAKE-OFF IN WIND A forced landing in a paddock at Gap Road, near Winton, during a strong wind, was made by a pilot of the Royal New Zealand Air Force flying a Tiger Moth aeroplane about 11 o’clock yesterday morning. He was flying from the Taieri aerodrome to Gore and mistook the Oreti river for the Mataura river. The pilot circled low over Winton and ascertained his whereabouts by the name on the railway goods sheds. Because of the strong wind that was blowing and his low petrol supply, he decided to land rather than take the risk of returning to Gore. He landed without mishap in a paddock about two miles from Winton. It is understood that the pilot, who belongs to the West Coast, was making his first trip south of the Taieri. The pilot advised the aerodrome authorities that he had made a forced landing, and about 3 p.m. another Air Force machine made a perfect landing in the paddock in spite of the wind, which had increased to gale force. Both machines were refuelled by a Winton garage proprietor and took off safely on their return to their base.