AERIAL SURVEY CARRIED OUT

Southland Times, Issue 25533, 29 November 1944, Page 4

AERIAL SURVEY CARRIED OUT

Three Attempts In Flying Boat WEATHER - RESTRICTS ACTIVITIES Unfavourable weather has restricted the activities of the Catalina flying boat which is at present at Bluff for the purpose of carrying out photographic survey work. Since it came south about a month ago, the flying boat has made only three flights. However, on one of these flights photographs of the area to be surveyed were secured. These have been sent to Wellington to be processed. Advice whether the photographs were successful should soon be received. It is understood that the flying boat will return to its base within the next few days. The area to be surveyed is noted for low cloud, and few opportunities have been available for aerial photographic work.. On its first flight the Catalina developed slight mechanical trouble and had to return to Bluff. It was more than half-way to its objective on the second flight when an unfavourable weather report was received, and it was again forced to turn back. OPERATIONS HAMPERED Success, up to a point, was attained on the third attempt. The flying boat was taken over the area and photographs were secured. For this type of work it is desirable to get up to about 7000 feet and stay there, but because of low cloud the Catalina had to work at 2000 feet. This considerably hampered operations, but the photographer was able to get certain “shots.” Exceptionally rough weather was experienced in Southland last week, and Flying Officer D. S. Beauchamp, D.F.C., commander of the Catalina, has not been very happy about his craft, which has been moored in Bluff harbour. He said that a Catalina should not be out in such rough conditions. Fortunately, however, it was in a sheltered part of the harbour and the sea had not been able to build up against it. Extra ropes had been put on to stop file craft riding about too freely, and it had weathered the storm very well.