EX-FOXTON RESIDENT INJURED IN AEROPLANE SMASH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3929, 11 April 1929, Page 3

EX-FOXTON RESIDENT INJURED IN AEROPLANE SMASH.

PLANE CRASHES 2,000 FEET INTO SEA. An ex-Foxton resident, in the person of Mr John Dooley, aged 27, school teacher, who is now living at Arn cliff e, Sydney, narrowly escaped meeting his death when the aeroplane he was piloting crashed into the sea at Oronulla last Sunday week. Dooley was flying a De Haviland ’plane belonging to the Aero Club, and left Mascot at 11 a.m., when lie went over the George’s River at an altitude of 3.000 feet, but dropped to 2,000 feet over Oronulla. The machine appeared to be going quite well until over the beach, when it suddenly went into a tail spin, and commenced to fall rapidly. Momentarily the ’plane appeared to straighten out ,then dived into the sea about 500 yards from shore.

Fortunately both the North and South Oronulla life saving teams were engaged in competitions nt the time, and a boat was quickly to the rescue. When the res'euers reached the plane, which was still floating, Dooley was floundering in the water, and was on the point of going down, his heavy flying gear hampering his movements. He was hauled ashore, and received medical attention while a life line went out and made fast the sinking aeroplane, which was hauled ashore in a badly damaged condition. It was found that Dooley had received dislocations of the left shoulder, abrasions to the left arm, and severe shock. Mr J. Dooley was well known in Foxton, having been a teacher at (lie local primary school for a considerable time about two years ago, subsequently being transferred to Palmerston North, after which he removed to Sydney, where his home