PHOT OF FORCE-LANDED PLANE SAYS FARMER “BEAT HIM UP”

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 January 1948, Page 6

PHOT OF FORCE-LANDED PLANE SAYS FARMER “BEAT HIM UP”

(P.A.) Nelson, Jan. 25. When Mr. Kenneth Wilkinson, a pilot of the Nelson Aero Club, walked into the club headquarters at the . aerodrome today he had a remarkable story to relate in explanation of a blackened eye. bruised ribs and a generally battered appearance. While on a cross-country flight late yesterday afternoon he made a forced landing and had shown considerable skill in taking off again to return the club Moth ZK-AQH safely to the Nelson ’drome. He had left his passenger, Miss Joyce Talbot, a licenced club pilot, where he force landed, and it was on his return by motor-cycle to get her that he came by his injuries. According to the pilot he was beaten up by a farmer who complained that the plane had frightened his family. Mr. Wilkinson, a flight engineer with war experience on Catalinas, flew the club plane with Miss Talbot as passenger to Omaka, Blenheim. On his return there was extreme turbulence over the Rai Saddle, causing him difficulty in holding his height. He decided to turn back, but conditions were so rough that instead of going back to Omaka he decided to force land. This he did without mishap. Weather reports at the time indicated there was a 60 mile per hour south-westerly 1000 feet over that area. After he had been on the ground for about an hou r the wind died and he decided to take off solo leaving his passenger. Spectators held the wings of the plane to assist the take-off in a small paddock. He auccessfully got the plane up at 6.50 After checking in the aircraft at Nelson Mr. Wilkinson set out for the acene of the forced landing on a motor-cycle to pick up his passenger. On arrival he says he was approached by a man who complained that his | wife and children had been frightened by the plane. According to Mr. Wilkinson’s story this man subsequently beat him up. Eventually Wilkinson got away, collected his passenger, and returned to Nelson in the early hours of the morning.