AMY JOHNSON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 4

AMY JOHNSON

DROWNED IN THAMES ESTUARY WITH COMPANION IN PLANE i NAVAL OFFICER ALSO LOSES LIFE. . j IN VALIANT RESCUE EFFORT. • British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. January 7. Details are now available of the circumstances in which Amv Johnson lost her life. H.M. trawler Haslemere. under the command of Lieutennant-Commander W. E. Fletcher, which formed part of the escort of a convoy off the Thames Estuary, saw a parachute descending through low clouds. This was followed by an aircraft which circled round, losing height. It glided down and landed in the waler near the parachute. The weather was very bad at the time, with a heavy sea running, and the aircraft immediately began to break up. The Haslemere and other ships of the convoy escort at once stood over toward the wreckage in an attempt at rescue, but the attempts were hampered by the exceedingly heavy, confused sea. While a boat was being launched from the Haslemere those on saw two survivors from the aircraft the sea. One of these was seen to be a woman, but she sank before rescue could be attempted. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher dived overboard from the Haslemere in an attempt to save the life of the other aviator, and he was seen to roach the man and to bo supporting him. Meanwhile, the Haslemere’s boat had been launched, and made every effort to reach the two men. It failed to do ' so, but a naval motor launch which arrived on the scene picked up Lieut.Commander Fletcher. No trace could be found of the man he had tried to save. When picked up by the motor launch Lieutenant-Commander Fletcher was unconscious and suffering from extreme exhaustion and exposure. and he died soon after being landed and taken to hospital.

Another naval vessel which quickly came on the scene and endeavoured to help in the rescue, picked up the records of the aircraft floating among the wreckage.