Bad Weather Hampers Search

Chronicle (Levin), 1 December 1948, Page 5

Bad Weather Hampers Search

A Royal New Zealand Air PoTee Oxford Airspeed aircraft with a crew of three aboard, went missing on a flight frdm Napier to Ohakea yesterday afternoon and despite the prompt implementation of an air search over the probable conrse, no traee had been fonnd of the aircraft tvhen darkness brought search operations to a standstill. The Oxford left Napier at 3.3 p.m. and was dne at Ohakea at 3.53 p.m. " Plans were put in train last night for an intensification of the aerial search from first light this morning, and employees of the Works Department and 'the Forestry Department from Palmerston North to Napier have been placed on the alert.

Members of the crew of the missing aircraft are: — Pilot, Flight Lieutenant C. R. Bush, formerly of "Wellington. Next-of-kin, wife, residihg at-the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Ohakea. Navigator 1, H. Gr, F. Rennie, son of Mr. R. S. Rennie, of Tolaga Bay. Photographer, A,C.l R. G-. Roper, son of Mr. R. Roper, Vietoria Hotel, Petone. The Oxford had been on a journey to Gisborne on a photographic reeonnaissance mission. It left Napier at 3.3 p.m. and shortly after it had taken the air it reported by radio to Ohakea its flight plan for the homeward run. That was the last word received from the aircraft. When it became overdue Air Department and the Police Depari ment were alerted and an air search, employing two i\rosquitoes and one Ilarvard was immediately 'instituted. Two hours after the aircraft had beome ovcrdue information eonc.ernini: the Oxford was broadcast. Shortly afterwards reports began to flow into police stations throughout the district from people who thought they had seen tlie aircraft. Alany of these reports obviously could not have related to the Oxford irnt all reports were forwarded to Air Control at Wellington for sifting and correlation. The Napier police have had reports from people on the ground, whieh would indicate that the plane had reaehed Makaretu, 50 miles southwest of Napier at the foot of Parkis Peak, the highest point in the Ruahine^^^^es. The aircraft was then wel^mHH^nd appeared to be makinjfl^^^^^Hte' Ohakea through the N at the nouthern end of • All ground reports uif^^^^^HHeaircraft was making a terfH^^^^H^BHF Two bush men to the ranges, one of them - Arm y man. stated that the plane was making so inuch noise "it. would not be safe to be in it. " The plane has the eustomary Air Force markings and the number 2127. - Arr&hgehlfentS' ' fftir ihtensifying the search today provide for 22 aircraft to operate over the area. Of these 11 will take off at first light, five Dakotas being sent from Whenuapai and the rest from Ohakea, Wigram, Woodbourne and Rongotai. Flt.-Lt. Bush is believed to have been the last Battle of Britain pilot still serving with the R.N.Z.A.F. He had ;. (listinguished record of service during World War II, having made 48 oper'ational sweeps over enemy territory. He

later took part in operations over France. In the Battle of Britain throughout he was a member of the squad-' ron of the famops " Legless Bader" (Squadron Leader Douglas Bader). He subsequently lie'came a Spitfire instructor. He was one of the best all-rounci athletes turned out by Wellington Coi lege. There vas scarcely a sport in which he was not generally proiicienk He is 32 years of age and has two children.