WRECKED PLANE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 14 May 1942, Page 4

WRECKED PLANE

ON MOUNT RICHMOND COLLIDED WITH CLIFF (P.A.) Blenheim. May 13. i Further aerial reconnaissances appear to establish that the LockI heed airliner which crashed on .Vit. Richmond, between here and Nelson, on Thursday, burned out after colliding with a steep rock face in J thick weather. j The ground party which is proceeding to the scene is not expec.ed to reach the wrecked plane until this afternoon. There has been no news since parties irom Blenheim and Nelson joined forces yesterday afternoon and established a base camp at Langley Dal? station, on the banks of th: Wairau River. After collecting personnel and the considerable quantity of equipment required for such an expedition into rough country, the parties had only time to set up camp before dark last night. The journey was resumed before dawn this morning, but although the party is accompanied by military signallers, it is anlikey to communicate with Blenheim until the wreck has been examined. 11. is understood that the location of th(» wreckage has been clearly established and the party will be’able to make directly for it. but over rough going. Since lhe discovery of the wreckage by Flying-Officer J. Strand and an airman-nilof during a training flight yesterday morning. other machines have flown over the scene at a low altitude in imnroved weather. Despite a light sprinkling of snow, an examination from the air discloses that the fuselage is blackened as if gutted by lire. The plane evidently struck the north-east shoulder of Mt. Richmond at an altitude of about 5000 collding with a rocky cliff and then falling some distance downhill.