Ohakea Plane Missing; Three Men Aboard

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 December 1948, Page 4

Ohakea Plane Missing; Three Men Aboard

WEI LINGTON. Last Night (PA).— A Royal New Zealand Air Force Oxford aeroplane is missing on a flight between Napier and Ohakea. Tho plane carried three members of fha Air Force: Flight-Lieu t. C. R. Bush, D.F.C., husband of Mrs. C. R. Bush, Ohakea. ACI H. G. F. Rennie (navigator), son of Mr R. S. Rennie, Tolaga Bay. ACI R. G. Roper (photographer), son of Mr. R. Roper, Petone. Two Mosquitos and a Harvard commenced an air search for the missing plane today, and as it was not located before dark the search will be resumed at first light tomorrow. Eleven planes will resume the search from the air in the morning and when others join in from Woodbum, Wigram, Whenuapai and Rongotal 22 will cover the area. The plane was reported as having been sighted from about 12 different places, it is officially stated. The plane, which is a monoplane painted silver, was on a flight from Gisborne to Ohakea, and called at Napier. It took off again at 3.3 p.m. and was last sighted nearly threequarters of an hour later. In response to a police broadcast reports were received from two Central Hawke’s Bay districts of the plane having been sighted after leaving Napier. It was first reported as seen between Tikokino and Waipawa st 3.20 p.m.. and the second report was of it being seen 15 minutes later over Makaretu. Both reports said that the engine was making “funny noises." The last report would place the plane approximately 50 miles south-east of Napier and only five miles off the course it should have beer, following. After leaving Napier the plane was In have taken a course over the Whakarara Ranges, then to the west of Kimbolton across the Murray River and over Halcombe to Ohakea. The plane has the customary Air Force markings and the number 2127. Flight-Lieut. Bush is a Battle nt Britain pilot now based at Ghakea. After the war he made a tour of Japan and occupied Germany. He is 32 years old, married, with two children.