BODY OF THIRTEENTH VICTIM OF AIR CRASH LOCATED

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1948, Page 4

BODY OF THIRTEENTH VICTIM OF AIR CRASH LOCATED

Police Party Finds Passenger Under Wing Of Plane Near Fuselage

The body of the thirteenth passenger in the Lockheed Electra which crashed into a face of rock on Mount Ruapehu on October 23 was recovered late yesterday underneath the starboard wing and close to the main portion of the plane. The missing body was that of Mr. W. B. R. Mumford, M.8.E., M.1.E.E., single, aged 30 years, of England. He was employed by A. Reyrolle and Co., Ltd., of Hebburn-on-Tyne, England, and was on a visit to New Zealand. He was to return to England shortly. /

News of the finding of the thirteenth body was received in Ohakune last night by radio from a party which left Ohakune yesterday morning. The rescue party is not expected back at Horopito until 3 p.m. today.

A party of seven police constables and a farmer, under the direettion of Senior-Sergeant F. Taylor, of Taumarunui, left Ohakune at 10 a.m. yesterday. The party arrived at Cowern’s Mill at Horopito at 1 p.m. and at 5 p.m. radioed that a camp had been established at the head of the Mangaturuturu Valley near Latte Surprise. From then no further signal was heard until the message that the body of the missing passenger had been located. The police station at Ohakune at 8 p.m. was unaware that the party would continue its trek today.

Accompanying the party was Mr. D. Howell, who provided three pack horses and seven saddle horses. These were being taken up the track as far as possible. As the track was widened by State Forest Service employees for the removal of bodies on Saturday and Sunday, it was expected that the horses would be able to proceed to the first of the steep faces.

Two guides from the Chateau Tongariro are accompanying the party. They are Chief Guide Franz Skadarasay and Guide “Snow” Mace. Members of the police party are Constables A. Ward (Ohura), Cross (Taihape), H. W. Munro (Taumaranui), G. Phillips (Raurimu), W. Auld (National Park), J. Wynnard (Palmerston North) and Gunn (Palmers-ton-North).

The weather yesterday was fine in the Ruapehu area, but last night the sky was threatening. The temperature, however, was high and there was no risk of a further fall of snow.

No definite information regarding the time of the crash has yet been released. Watches worn by passengers stopped at times varying from 2.5 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. and even later. It is known that some of the watches were not damaged by the crash, but merely ran down. , " The most likely time, however, would appear to be between 2.5 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. Watches worn by passengers and the clock op the instrument panel in the pilots’ compartment were removed and taken into the charge of Air Department.

Mr. Mumford, in World War II served with distinction and attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.