FORCED LANDING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 69, Issue 6009, 18 October 1944, Page 4

FORCED LANDING

TE AWAMUTU BOY INVOLVED SERIOUS CRASH AVERTED Residents of Raetihi and Ohakune helped a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft to make a forced landing last night by shining the headlights of motor cars on a paddock between the two towns. The prompt action and co-operation of the police, the Post and Telegraph Department, and residents probably prevented a serious accident. As it was, none of the occupants of the aircraft received more than minor injuries. The aircraft, an Anson twin-engined trainer, left New Plymouth early in the evening on navigation exercise with Pilot-Officer L. D. Lawson, of Dannevirke, as pilot, Flying-Officer L. Lander, of New Plymouth, as wireless operator, and two pupils, LeadingAircraftmen I. D. Fisk, of Takapuna, and H. Renton, the son of Mr Horace Renton, of Te Awamutu. LeadingAircraftman Renton was educated at the Te Awamutu District High School, and was a member of the local Fire Brigade. After a time the Anson’s radio failed and all touch with the home station was lost. Telephone inquiries were made, but the plane was not located until a report came from Waiouru that the sound of the Anson’s engines had been heard. Nothing more was heard for a time until the aircraft was reported over Ohakune and later over Raetihi. By that time the petrol was running low and the New Plymouth station, which had been in touch with the police at Raetihi, requested them to get as many cars as possible and shine the lights on a paddock to bring plane in. The aircraft landed at Makaranui, about two miles from Raetihi, toward Ohakune, at 11.15 p.m. The machine was damaged, but Aircraftman Renton was unhurt, and the others received only superficial bruises and abrasions. An ambulance with two doctors and two nurses were on the scene and the airmen were taken to hospital overnight.