LAUNCH OCCUPANTS RESCUED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 May 1946, Page 5

LAUNCH OCCUPANTS RESCUED

— Press Association

j guccessful end to air search

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, May 8. "Clansman alongside launcli. Catalina returning to base. " This laconic rnessage, received in the air traffic control t-entre, Air Headquarters, Wellington, at 5.5 p.m. this ; eveuing, sigualled the ending of tlie three-day efTort to bring succour to "Jie two occupants of the launch Annie which has been drifting off the west eoast of the North Island, north of New Plvmouth, since Fridav of last week. The occupants of the launch, L. K. Kjeldsen and J. D. IMcGlaslian, were reported by the R.N.Z.A.F. Catafina fivingboat which supervised the fi-nal contact, to appear to be quite lit. rrhe Clansman, a 200-ton motor vessel. had been urgcntly dispatched from New Plymouth at 1 a.m. today to try to reach the launch • and had been battling with heavy seas from the moment she cleared New Plymouth harbour. To. relocate .the launch four Ventura aircraft, two from Whenuapai and two from Oiiakea, were dispatched at approximately 7 a.m. with visibility about half a mile. Each pair of Venturas could not cover- a breadtli of more than two4 miles at each sweep. It was not till 12.30 p.m. that the launch was again sighted. It had drifted to a point about 24 miles from Gannet Island, in a west-southwest direction and was about 54 miles from New Plymouth. The Clansman is not .equippe'd With wireless but a radio receiving set was carried. It had therefore been arrailged that any inforination useful in the reaching of the launch would be broadeast from Btation 1YA Auckland. Immediately the launch was located and the aircraft radioed its position back to the Air Force cohtrol stations, 1YA began broadcasting the launch 's positioii. This was done at quarterhour intervals fof two hours. The four Yenturas returned to base shortly after the Catalina flyifigboat from Auckland took ovet the watch above the launch. At 4.37 p.m. the Catalina reported that she had sighted the Clansman at an estimated distance of 12 miles, making full speecl in tlie direction of the launch. Diffictilty then arose in that the Catalina was 9S miles from base f and iliust soon leave tlie launch if it were to return in time to make a day light laiiding. Dusk at Auckland tonight was 5.56 p.m. A decision had to be made witether it was advisable for it to remain over the launclh anj? longer. While the Auckland control roora femained on the phone, the neeessary

authorities in the Air Department were ebnsiilted and instructions given that, leaving the final decision with the cap-tain-of the Catalina, tlie fivingboat should stay at the seene to faeilitafe surface contact. On the heels of the inessage from tlie Catalina that it wrr stai'ing, came tlie final message announeing the end of the searfih. The Catalina laiided safely at Mechanics' Bay at 5.53 p.m. Since Monday whon the Air Force took a lland in the eifort to fihd and succour the launch, aircraft have flown nearly 6700 miles. Their ctews have doiie excOllent work.