LOSS OF AMPHIBIAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 168, 19 July 1939, Page 12

LOSS OF AMPHIBIAN

DETAILS OF MISHAP DOWN IN 3(io FATHOMS « Per I’fesa Association.; AUCKLAND. July 17. A Pr>s Association radio nWoSi.g. ii .in i warship Achilles, dated Saturday, states: Following a successful flight o\«r Aitutaki t .-day, the ani--1 phibian plane of the Achilles capsized ... nk immediately in 300 fathoms. The pilot, Lieu L i nant S I 1’ gi ipn- ■ i.-t. Trent both made a dramat.c escape ■from the sinking plane in shark infested wat r.. The plane was a Walrus amphibian, which had i -placed a similai machine lost in lhe Red Sea during the Achilles’ trip to New Zcnl-ji;, la.-l Anr i. L ngthy Hights had previously b-Cn made at Rarotonga. M..uke and At.u. where the natives w-re awed by the j iirst iron bird they had seen. No previous trouble was experienced, Tills , morning the plane made a perfect take-off from the cruisers catapult. ' Th. ir Exc-llcncios L-.ird and Lady Galwi.y anti (he Captain and 1- ohi- < r< <»i the Achille., were at Aitutaki i .‘sidenc.. and «?. messag > was heliograph d l> the shne, silting that the i pl uie had .-link, bat that the crew were sate. . Heroic effoits by Skyes and Trent , and sailors to s-cure wires io the sink- ■ ing plane were unsuccessful. 1 The accident occurred while hoisting |ihe plane aboard, it is Impossible for ■ ( a diver to operate at the tremendous ■ depth. I Captain Parry inform'd the Pre a s 'Association representative that an inquiry will be held to investigate the ' cause. A Wellington Mi hap ! A semewhat similar accident, when, 1 how.ver, the aeroplane was recovered, ■ took place on Wellington Harbour m November, 1937, when the Walrus amjphibian belonging to H.M.S. Leander i cap-ized on landing after a flight. The aeroplane . tiuck the water v.it.i I'.rmendotu splash, throwing up a column of spray. Th? accident took • place midway b-twcen Oriental Bay 4 and Pip tca Wharf, and lhe noise of