MERCY FLIGHT SUCCEEDS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1947, Page 2

MERCY FLIGHT SUCCEEDS

! After two unsuccessfnl atteinpts to buck the elements the tiny Percival Procter of the Middle Districts Aero Club has reached Dunedin airport with an. iirgent brain surgery case aboard. ; The thii d attempt, concluded at 3.8 p.m. yesterday when the Procter touched . down at Taieri and taxied to a waiting ambulance to which the patienl was j transferred. Bo ends the three day battle with thv iolouHuits which was reported in "The [' • yesterday. Piioted by Mr. N. P. Thompson, of Palmerston Nortii, thc tiny plane took ofl' from Palmerston North airport at 9.12 a.111. iu promising weather. Tliroughout the iong trip south its progress was reported to Flyiug Control at Palmerston North, each report adding another dramatic scene I to the flight. At 10.52 a.m. it was Istated that the aireraft had reached the Kaikouras and the estimated timo of arrival at Harewood aerodromo was_ 11.8 a.m. Word was liashed north jusi. before 3 p.111. that the mercy plane was expected at Taieri at 3.8 p.in., Chief instructor to the club, Wing Commander D. W. Morrisli, A.F.C., stated yesterday that the air.eraft could have made the flight against the wind on Saturday and Sunday but tlie*feason for turning,back was the turbulence of tlie air which Avould have had a serious effcc.t on the condition of the patient if the flight had continued. The conditions yesterday werc altogether more favourable and writh the report of good weather received from Air Departmeni the flight was again atteuipted and ac coniplishtd.