Body Of Airman Recovered From Sea

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1948, Page 5

Body Of Airman Recovered From Sea

Press Association')

(Per

OAJVIAKI , Bept. 1. The body of Mr. Angus Mclntosh, - of Invercargill, the owner anu ])ilot ot the Puss Moth aircraft which crashod into the sea off Pukeuri last. week, was fountl on the beaeli at Oamaru this liiomring some seven or eight miles south of wlu-j'e the sunken plane was located vesterday afternoon. Mr. Mclntosh was 57 years of age. Efforts to bring the plane to the surface vesterday were unsuceessful, although the grappling irons turned it over on three occasions. It is thought the body was shaken clear during the attempts to raise the plane and was carried south along the coast by the strong drift from the north. The body when first seen at 8 o'elock was actually on the beaeh, but when a police p.arly afrived it had lieen carried out into the surf which was running strongly. Constables L. R. Blake and J. D. Farquhar took a jruffeting from the breakers before they eventually re cowred the body. The deceased 's watch had stopped at 6.40 o'elock (the plane passed along the coast at Oamaru at (3.15 on Wednesday of last week). Although the features of the face were unrecognisable, the clothing tallies with the description of the late Mr. Mclntosh . when he left Invercargill on his ill-

f'ated fiight. The police state, after a quiek exanii nation, that the body does not show any serious injuries, and the thoory is lield tlfat the plane, after landing on the sea, floated long enough for Mr. Alclntosh to slip his slioulder straps (if he had them 011), and to fernere his coats and one of his shoes. Apparently he failed "to get clear ahd went down with the aircraft. The plane lies 200 yards off the beaeli dil-eetly opposite the spot where ihe landing wheel was picked up on Baturdav morning. During the dragging operations yesterdav p'art of the tail assembly rvas brought up, and also part of the wing. Alr. M. Aspros, from wliose traivlers the dragging operations are being carried out, made a further trip to Pukeuri Beaeli today, and, although no dragging operations were carried out, he r&tumed with further pieces of wreckage. At the request of relatives of the late Mr. Mclntosh, Mr. Aspros intends to make ano'ther attenipt to. lif t tlio plane.