PLANE BURST Into Flames on Crashing

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 39, 2 March 1937, Page 7

PLANE BURST Into Flames on Crashing

— Presa Aasn.—Copyrjght.)

VICl'IM'S D1ARY

Pilots were Trapped And Incinerated l STRUGGLE FOR WATER

(By Telegraph

(Received 2, 11.55 a.m.) BRISBANE, March 2. Mr. Proud's diary, scratched with a penknife on a piece of metal from the wrecked plane, says: "The plane crashed into the hillside at 1.50 p.m. on February 19. The plane had a heavy list to starboard and immediately i t crashed it burst into flames and the cabin filled with smoke." Mr. Proud gained exit by removing a window and then pulled Mr. Binstead cut and the two helped Mr. Westray out. The survivors were forced to get clear of the plane as the heat was very great. The next day Mr. Westray left seeking assistance. He called out that he could see a farmhouse, but he did not Teturn. (His dead body was later found). Mr. Proud told rescuers that when the crash occurred the weather did not seem to have been affecting the plane partieularly. The pilots showed no signs of anxiety at any time. There was no hope of saving the other passengers or the pilots, who were trapped and incinerated. Mr. Binstead told a pitiful tale of his efforts to bring water from the creek only 200 yards away. He said it took hioi five hours the last time to do that 200 yards stretch and return. A remarkable feature of the rescue was the high spirits of the survivors after their ten-days ordeal. They had no shelter and had experienced cold, wet weather practically ever since the plane crashed. Dr. Lawlor, one of the rescue party, does not expect to get the injured men baek to Hillview for three days owing to the danger of moving them in their exhausted state.