DESPERATE MINUTES

Waipawa Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue 23, 7 November 1924, Page 1 (Supplement)

DESPERATE MINUTES

THREE HOURS’ SEE-SAW ON SINKING ’PLANE. The peril in which the three British “world-flight” airmen were placed when, in a dense fog off Bering Island, they were forced to land on the sea, and their desperate efforts to save their machine, were recently described by Squadron-Leader MacLaren, the leader of the expedition. The new story was sent from “On board the coastguard cutter Algonquin by wireless to St. Paul's Island (off Alaska),’’ to which the airmen transferred from the Canadian trawler Thiepval. Squadron-Leader MacLaren says that when his pilot, Flying-Officer Plenderlcith, brought the plane to the water and the wings were smashed, ho ordered tlie donning of lifebelts. Ho tfton examined the hull, but found no signs that it was taking water. The fog was so dense that lie could not see the land.

“Wo saw hundreds of birds flying in two steady streams," he continued. “We believed they were leaving their nests for sea-fishing, and would return to feed their young. This tallied with my calculation Jliat land should be east-south-east fairly close. “We started the engine and attempted to taxi, but it was almost impossible lo steer, as the wing tips buried themselves in the water, swinging the piano around. LEAP INTO ICY WATER. “Colonel Broome and myself spent two hours in running backwards and forwards on Ihe lower wings as the plane sea-sawed, and the weight of the engine threatened to capsize the ship. “We had to stop the engine repeatedly as the water boiled and sprayed over the plane. The machine threatened to dive under the waves as the tail plunged. The wings then starred to break. “During our last desperate minutes on board the plane, Colonel Broome pointed east, where a patch of fog

had lifted, aud we could dimly see land.

“We started the engine with difficulty, as everyone was getting exhausted, and wc were all cold and wet. Plenderleith left the pilot’s* seat to help to start the motor. We then saw the sandy beach ahead, about two miles distant.” The aviators drove close to the breakers and dropped anchor, but the high wind dragged the plane north-west. Then everyone jumped into the icy waters and held the plane heading towards the sea. The wind finally slackened, aud the aviators beached the plane. “Plenderlcith and myself unloaded the equipment,” says Squad-don-Lcader MacLaren, “then the fog began to lift, and we rested during the afternoon, which was bright, warm, and clear.”

Later, through the Russian wireless operator on Bering Island, the party got into touch with the Canadian trawler Thiepval at Petropavlosk. This vessel sailed at full steam, took the aviators aboard, and sailed for Dutch Harbour. Major Tanaga Ija and Lieut-Com-mander Tokunago, and the officers of the Thiepval did commendable work salvaging the plane. It was impossible to arrange through the Japanese Government for a passage through Japan, so it was decided to take the Thiepval to Dutch Harbour.

“The Round-the-World Flight, owing to conditions, must be abandoned. We arc sorry, but it cannot be helped,” said Squadron-Leader MacLaren.