MISSING FLYING-BOAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1943, Page 4

MISSING FLYING-BOAT

BUT WATER IN DARKNESS IDENTIFIED WRECKAGE FOUND. PERSONNEL BELIEVED KILLED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The crew and passengers of the fly-ing-boat. a Catalina, reported missing on a flight to New Zealand on June 5, have now been officially reclassified as ■‘missing, believed killed.” This reclassification is based on the recovery of identified wreckage on Dravuni Island. some 59 miles south of Suva, and the absence of any evidence to suggest survival of Hie crew or passengers. The next-of-kin have been informed accordingly. In making this announcement last evening, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, said that all possible action had been taken to find survivors. Sea and air searches had been most thorough, but unfortunately no trace of the crew or passengers had been found. “An official inquiry has been held in Fiji attended by all authorities including representatives of the Air Department, and the findings show that the aircraft was in sound condition when it left for New Zealand, and that the accident can in no way be attributable to any action or negligence on the part of the shore organisation. The loading of the aircraft was well below the maximum- permissible. “It is clear from the established facts," Mr Fraser continued, "that the flying-boat struck the sea during darkness and was broken by the impact. But there was no evidence to show the primary cause of the accident. The crew were highly competent and experienced. and the captain of the fly- , ing-boat (Squadron Leader McGregor) was regarded as one of the most capable and expert pilots in the Air Force.”