Radio Played Big Part In Liaison In Search Work

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 November 1948, Page 6

Radio Played Big Part In Liaison In Search Work

OHAKUNE, Saturday (“Chronicle” Staff Reporter).—The value of radio transmitting &nd receiving equipment, especially portable gear, in tne co-ordination oi saerch and rescue efforts has been clearly demonstrated in the recovery of the bodies of the victims of the Lockheed Electra from the slopes of Mount Ruapehu.

Amateur radio operators from the Ohakune, Raetihi and Wellington districts co-operated with the Army in maintaining communication between the rescue parties, the bases at Mangaturuturu Valley, Horopito and Ohakune and with the Air Force at the landing field at Karioi. The movements of the searching parties as they plodded up the hazardous slopes of the mountain were relayed through a channel of stations until the information finally reached the Prime Minister’s office in Wellington and the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Accompanying the advance rescue parties were two members of the Army, equipped with walkie-talkie equipment. They passed their information on to a receiving and transmitting station set up at the Mangaturuturu base bv an amateur radio operator. Another station was located at the foot of the mountain and another station at Cowern’s Mill. Here the Army had a radio truck. There were times when communication was lost in some of the channels, but the system of relays enabled communication between the advance party and the base to be maintained continually. • One of the Army personnel went right to the scene of the wreckage and his set had to be lowered down a cliff to the plane as the party arrived above the wreckage. The second Army operator did not go right to the plane and acted as a relayer. The amateur station at Cascade Falls was operated by Messrs H. D Sandford (Raetihi) and A. McLean (Raetihi), the foVmer being in charge of the amateurs. The station at the bottom of the mountain, at Cowern’s Hut, was operated by Messrs D. Prime (Taihape) and T. Techan (Raetihi) and Messrs D. Vaughan (Wellington), F. Keucke (Ohakune) and C. Gregory (Taihape) were at the station at Cowern’s Mill. In addition to these, Mr. R. Powell, of Ohakune, had his amateur station set up in the courthouse at Ohakune, and he received messages to be passed on to the police at Ohakune. The work of the amateur radio operators saved much valuable time and enabled those directing the operations to know just what was going on. The provision of radio facilities, also enabled the ground forces to contact aircraft which dropped supplies blankets and stretchers. When the stretcher bearers return ed from the mountain late this afternoon and the remainder of the men on the mountain were congregated at base at Cascade Flats, radio watches ceased at 8 p.m. and were to be resumed at 5 a.m. tomorrow. During the time that the main party was on the mountain, transmissions were made at scheduled periods and every effort was made to conserve the batteries of the portable equipment. Tribute was paid to the two Army personnel who carried the walkietalkie equipment to the wreckage. Although the equipment is compact and light it must have .become weighty before its operators had completed their arduous climb. Because batteries operating radio sets taken up the mountain were beginning to run low, communication became rather difficult as Saturday advanced. Interference was caused 1. the motors of vehicles coming and going from the camp at Cowern’s Mill, with the result that motorists on official business- were requested not to start the motors of their cars unless absolutely necessary. The Army Department, co-operated with the search and played a large nart in establishing the base camp at Cowern’s Mill The Army also provided continuous communication by wireless and sent food parlies into the mountain. Radio equipment and personnel were from Waiouru