ONE MACHINE FORCED DOWN AT CONWAY RIVER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18576, 26 September 1928, Page 12

ONE MACHINE FORCED DOWN AT CONWAY RIVER.

AIR FORCE SHOWS EFFICIENCY WHEN CALL FOR AID COMES. When returning from Blenheim with Mr H. A. Litchfield, navigator of the Southern Cross, as a passenger yesterday afternoon. Captain J. L. Findlay was forced to land his Bristol Fighter aeroplane on the north bank of the Conway River on account of trouble with his engine pressure pump. The defect was not a serious one and Captain Findlay made a perfect landing on a terrace at the mouth of the river. Captain Buckley, who was piloting one of the other machines, noticed Captain Findlay’s descent and circled overhead in order to see what had happened. He saw the landing and then revived a signal from Captain Findlay that all was well and that the machine was in no way damaged. The other two machines then continued on to Christchurch. F-aptain Findlay telephoned to the Wigram Aerodrome at four o’clock, after having walked some distance to the nearest house. The place where the machine landed is almost uninhabited, there being only one house within some miles of it. The quiet and efficient manner in which tly* members of the Air Force work was illustrated when Captain Findlay’s message was received at the Wigram Aerodrome. Immediately on its receipt, a motorcar was loaded with the necessary spare parts and with additional supplies of petrol and oil. Staff Sergeant Simpson made all arrangements and

within five minutes ox the message be ing received, Sergeant Simpson and another mechanic were on their ninety mile journey to the mouth of the Conway River. So quickly and quietly were the necessary arrangements made that the small crowd which was awaiting the arrival of the airmen at the Wigram ‘drome were unaware of the mishap until the other .two machines ax rived.