New Attempt To Recover Airmen's Bodies

Chronicle (Levin), 11 December 1948, Page 5

New Attempt To Recover Airmen's Bodies

Refusing to aecept the view that it might be impossible to recover the bodies of the three erew members of the R.N.Z.A.F. Airsp'eed Oxford which erashed in the Ruahine Ranges, Supor* intendent H. J. Joyce, of Palmerston North, .yesterday deeided to organise a t'urther attempt, this time from the Manawatu side of the mountains. A party comprising poliee, Air Force personnel and two experieneed trampers was assembled at Iiangawahia in the afternoon and it set out on the lirst stage of its journey to the Rangiwahia Ski Club hut at 7 p.m. This party expeets to reach Howlett 's Hut and link up with the eastern parties today. It is understood that this new move follows represeritations by settlers in the baek of Table Flat and bushmen in the vieinity of Stewart's Mill, whieh is only three miles as the crov flies from the seene of the tragedy. Thes^ people liold the eonvictiofi that the bodies .can more easilv be brought out from the mountain.s down the Oroua Iiiver, thus avoidmg the high climb required -on the eastern side. Settlers said they could not understand why ali of the reeoverv operations had been coneentrated on the Waipukurau side of the ranges. Constable J. Gunn, of Palmerston Nolth, who took part in the reeoverv operations following the Kaka tragedy on JMount Ruapenu, was appointed to lead the party whieh includes Constable J. D. Anderson, of Palmerston North, seven members of the Air Foree, and Messrs F. ITeise :ind A. VVood, of Rangiwahia. Mr. Heise, -who has eonsideral)le knowledge of the terrain, Avill aet as the guide. The party is equipped with ground signalling apparatus and will maintain contaet with Air Foree planes flyi'ng over the area. A seeond party will be ready to leave Rangiwahia this morning with additional supplies on a paek . horse train. It will be led by another ^ prominent Rangiwahia resident, Mr. II. Thompson. The movements nf the seeond party will depend upon messages 1 sent baek from the group whieh set , out last night. Rangiwahia residents e,laim that the route to. Howlett.'s Hut | from the western side is easier than ' that from the eastern side, but the saine path will liave to be l'ollowed , down to the aetiial seene of the erasli. ' Constable Gunn's party whieh set out ■ Tfroin Rangiwahia at 7 p.m. was to have • travelled live miles by road and then l faced a elimb of one and a quarter hours to reaeh the Rangiwahia Ski ^ Glub hut wliere they will spend the ! niglit. When this party Jinks up with the eastern searchers the most practi- ! cal route for bringing out the bodies will be deeided upon. Sergegnt ,F. W. Le Fort, of Napier, who led the fifst party into the see/ie ■ of the crash, had expressed the view , that the bodies might have to be buried in the mountains beeause it might be impossible to carry them out.