CAPTAIN CHANDLER’S EXPERIENCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3937, 2 May 1929, Page 2

CAPTAIN CHANDLER’S EXPERIENCES.

■STORY OF THE FLIGHT. BLIND FLYING IN THICK WEATHER. Blenheim, April 30. With the arrival home at about 3.30 this afternoon of two strange-ly-dressed and mu eh bedraggled individuals, in whom it was difficult to recognise Captain N. E. Chandler and Air. 0. A. Macdonald, the full story of the terrible adventure in Cook Strait on Monday and the dreadful experience at Ship’s Cove .during the night became available. The Blenheim Moth took l off from Hastings at 9.45 on Monday morning in company with machines piloted by Captain Findlay, Burrell, Hall and Mercer. With the exception of Captain Hall, the other pilots had ♦arranged to land at Parorangi, near Feild'ing. Here the Bristol machine was to he refuelled. Conditions were bumpy, but a smart trip of an hour saw all the machines on the ground at Parorangi. HEAVY RAIN CLOUDS. Taking the air again, Captain Fincllav and Mercer were first away, followed half an hour later, at 11.30, by the Blenheim Moth. The latter took a north-westerly course over Foxton -and Paekakariki to Cape Terawhiti, and at this point should have headed for Tory Channel. At this time the South Island was quite invisible under heavy rain clouds, so Captain Chandler headed his imachine for Lyall Bay, where conditions were clear. At this moment the clouds over the South Island lifted, and the Brothers and the northern part of the South Island were clearly visible, and it was decided to run part of the way arross the strait in the hope of a further improvement in visibility. When half-way across the water the clouds again shut down and both islands were obscured. Descending To within fifty feet of the water, the airmen found the Brothers dimly visible, but tbe mainland could not he observed.

ENGINE TROUBLE DEVELOPS. The machine was turned in the direction of Tory Channel and Port Underwood, but though the aeroplane must have been within a hundred feet of the cliffs not a glimpse of them was obtained. The aeroplane was turned about, and a little later picked up the Brothers, which was circled twice to enable the light-keeper to read the identification letterSj the nirimen being well aware that they were up against it and at the mercy of their engine. Just then the Gypsy gave signs of trouble.

“An air loefk,” said Captain Chandler, laconically. The machine flew low, and picked up the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound. If anything, conditions were now worse, and blinding rain heat about- the aeroplane. With Motuara just dimly visible below, the engine spluttered and cut out. A SKILFUL LANDING. “Any landing place here?” asked the pilot. “You might put her down in Ship’s Cove and you mightn’t,” was the reply of (lie passenger. He pointed out the direction, and the aeroplane was put into a glide. Through the fog Ship’s Cove became dimly visible, and as the tide was full the little beach was covered. One patch of flat rock about forty feet square was visible. Captain Chandler, with uncanny accuracy, headed for it for a pancake landing. He undershot it by fen feet, and the machine stalled, and in a fraction of a second fell nose down in the water twenty feet from the shore.

The pilot was quickly overboard in water up to his arm-pits. Mr. Macdonald, in the forward cockpit, found solme difficulty in extricating himself, from under the wings. The crew waded ashore in sheets of rain. It was a wonderful landing in the circumstances, and Captain Chandler’s nice judgment undoubtedly saved their lives. At this stage the aeroplane was virtually undamaged, and. if jbhe crehv had had a length of rope to pull the tail down she could have been got ashore. Baolk oil shore the airmen were in a sorry'plight. Wet lo the skin and five out of the question, and the vre out of the question, and the rain pouring down pitilessly, the pair crouched down in an old pack-ing-case they discovered. At about two o’clock Captain Chandler set off in an attempt to reach Cannibal Cove, leaving bis partner in misfortune to the pneking-case. Two hours later Captain Chandler became lost in the thick bush, and hallooed for direction; he eventually found his way back to the packing-case. There they had to face the long hours of darkness, with the rain beating down pitilessly and unceasingly. The cold was intense; it was an awful -night, never to be forgotten.

At dawn, Captain Chandler-again set off, eventually reaching Cannibal Cove after a strenuous effort of tour hours. About the same time, Mr. Macdonald attracted the attention of a fishing launch, and a little later, Captain Mercer and Hall flew overhead in searching ’planes also, and Captain Mercer dropped a packet of sandwiches. Mr. D. Perano’s launch picked up Mr. Macdonald and later Captain Chandler, Who had telephoned the news of his own and his companion’s safety-

The. aeroplane was rather badly damaged in the storm during the night. The adventurers have been inundated with telegrams of congratulation, and were given a wonderful welcome at Pictou and Blenheim.

Both much appreciated the steps taken to locate them by pilots in the Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay and Auckland lOlubs, and by Captain -Burrell, and tlie Government-.