Catalina Was Destroyed By Time Bomb

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1949, Page 5

Catalina Was Destroyed By Time Bomb

(N.Z.P.A.-

m . -Reuter.

Copyright)

SYDNEY, August 29. Experts who have inspected the wreckage of the Qantas Empire Airways Catalina flving-boat which exploded at her mooring in Rose Bay, Rvdnev, 011 Saturday morning, are of the opinion that a time-bonib placed in the cabin wrecked the aireraft. After the remains of the plane had been raised ,from the harbour bed detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch • found a time bomb mechanism and tinier. The fuselage had been blown outward just behind the wing, indicating that a high explosive had been hidden in the eabrn. Employees at the flying-boat base did not notiee fire in tlie aireraft until after the expiosion. Aviation experts feel sure that the expiosion had no connection with the petrol tanks, which are in the wings. /The Catalina, which arrived' from Noumea 011 Friday evening, had been riding at her moorings for seven hours before the expiosion, and had been visited twice during the night by regular Qantas crews for inspection and the pumpmg of bilges. It was last inspected less than an hour and a half before the shattering expiosion caused it to sink. A diver reclainied the instruments and fittings scattered on the floor of the harbour, and, with the assistance of la heavy I fioating crane, was able to salvag'e everything except the tail section. Thu I wreckage is now under' aimed guard in tlie Rose Bay Hangari