FORCED LANDING

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 27, 27 October 1942, Page 4

FORCED LANDING

Plane Down In African

Forest WELLINGTON AIRMAN’S EXPERIENCE One of the most startling experiences of a Wellington member of the Royal Air Force has been related in a letter recently received in New Zealand. This young man, whose occupation here and in Australia wag the study and practice of the installation of hot-water systems, certainly kept to the hot water slant in life. AVith others he was commisisoned to take a certain class of plane from the country of its production to another field of war activity. On the way over Africa, a continent altogether strange to him, flying at between 200 00 and 30,000 feet, he encountered an electrical storm of such violence that it threw his compass and every electrical instrument out of commission. In consequence he had to fly blind for over 5i hours. At last, knowing full well that he had lost his way to the next aerodrome, and that, nearing the end of his petrol supplies, he would have to land, he descended 'beneath the clouds to get a glimpse of the ground. It was not reassuring. A rough forest-clad country frowned up menacingly. He at length spotted a clearing in the forest and, taking a chance, went down. As it turned out the ground was fairly even for primitive country, and, after knocking over a few small trees, the big plane was brought up all standing on its wheels. It was a good landing, little material damage was done to the plane, and no one was hurt.

Those in the plane had not been long on the ground when black-skinned natives appeared out of the forest, menacing them with spears. By signs they intimated to these men that they came in peace and amity, and pointed to the plane to explain how they came. At last the natives conveyed by signs that there were white men not so far away, and that they would guide the airmen to them. With that they disappeared, to bring forward some wildlooking ponies, on which were peculiar wooden saddles. On these animals, over bumpy, well-forested country, they rode for five hours, till they were sore in body as well as mind, scarcely knowing what next to expect. At last to their surprise they came on a camp of R.A.F, men, to whom they explained their predicament. They were soon made comfortable, and assured that all would be well. In due course, after resting, they and a party of natives repaired to the scene of the forced landing. The natives were put to work to fell trees and make a runway, and, in under four days, they accomplished this Herculean task. The plane, after being refuelled, was soon in the air and landed at a wellequipped aerodrome, where their rescuers were stationed.

There the plane was properly overhauled, and, after a mutual exchange of good wishes, the airmen took to the air once more, with everything in order, and arrived at their destination a few hours later, much to the surprise of the authorities, who had given them up as lost.