ADRIFT FOR 27 HOURS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23114, 31 January 1945, Page 4

ADRIFT FOR 27 HOURS

Survivors Of Catalina Crash OTHER OCCUPANTS BELIEVED KILLED (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 30. Reports from the six survivors of the Catalina aircraft which crashed near Fiji last Saturday Indicate that the remaining 12 occupants of the flying-boat were probably knocked unconscious by the crash, and consequently did not escape before the aircraft sank. Intensive searches have failed to reveal any trace of the missing men, who have been reclassified as missing, believed killed. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but a court of inquiry is being held. The Catalina apparently dived in heavily. Corporal J. H. Christenson (Christchurch) and Aircraftman A. E. Marsden (Auckland) were thrown into the sea. Sergeant M. Hunter (Invercargill) and Corporal L. V. Perry (Tauranga) managed to get two dinghies clear. These were operated by Sergeant S. C. Sa ward (Tuakau).

A passenger, of Fiji, . was pulled clear of the which sank within 60 seconds of striking the water. Afterward there was no .sign of the remaining occupants of the aircraft. The survivors, all of whom were suffering from slight injuries, drifted in dinghies from Just before mid-day on Saturday until about 9.40 a.m. on Sunday, when they were picked up by a trading schooner. The schooner was sighted a few minutes later by searching aircraft and about 11 o’clock another flying-boat landed and took off the rescued men. They were taken back to the base and soon after midday w'ere admitted to the station sick quarters.