SEA RESCUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1942, Page 3

SEA RESCUE

SUNDERLAND TAKES 56 MEN FROM LIFEBOATS OFF COAST OF WEST AFRICA. AUCKLAND AIRMAN’S NARRATIVE (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, April 6. An Aucklander, Flying Officer J. Pybus, was the second officer of the Sunderland flying-boat which recently picked up 56 survivors, who were the entire crew of a torpedoed merchantman. The Sunderland flew them to Freetown. Flying Officer Pybus said: “We could not see a sign of survivors when we arrived over the position whence the S.O.S. had been sent out, so we circled for four hours and then sighted three lifeboats, lashed together. We had intended to take the wounded only, but decided to jettison our depth charges and replace them by passengers. I’ll say they were thankful.” Flying Officer Pybus has been stationed in West Africa since last July, protecting convoys. He declares: “We have had no action and it is most monotonous.” Flying Officer Pybus is now on leave in London. A former member of the Wakatere Boating Club, he has built four dinghies in West Africa which provide the main sport in that area. His visitors have included the Aucklanders, Lieutenant-Commander H. J. C. George, R.N.V.R., and Sub-Lieuten-ant R. J. Ross, R.N.Z.N.V.R.