Two Planes Lost

One Forced Down In Violent New Guinea Storm

A WACO biplane, one of the Stephens Airways fleet, was lost near Madang, New Guinea on November 20.

Piloted by Captain “Bill” Leggatt, it arrived on November 20 on a newly cleared airfield (named Nubia-Potsdam aerodrome), near the coast, about 90 miles north-west of Madang, and halfway to Wewak. Messrs. C. M. Rouse and R. Beckett were passengers.

About 2.30 p.m., Captain Leggatt took off alone, for Madang; and 15 minutes later he ran into one of the violent squalls for which that region is notorious.

The terrific wind drove the pilot off his course and he had to make a forced landing in jungle country, 1½ days walk from any habitation. The pilot, though slightly injured, set off on foot towards Madang. He reported that the plane was “a complete write-off”—it lay in difficult and almost inaccessible country—but the engine subsequently was salvaged.

Our Wau correspondent reports that a D.H. 50, under Pilot John Miles, crashed at Chimbu. The pilot escaped injury, and the engine was salvaged.

A Guinea Airways small Junkers (Pilot S. Wiltshire) suffered severe damage to the under-carriage when landing at Slate Creek with native labourers. No one was hurt and the plane is being

repaired by Guinea Airways staff, from

Lae.

The ill-fated plane, on Nubia - Potsdam aerodrome, being warmed up just prior to the trip on which it was lost. Looking on are: N. Lee (Potsdamhafen plantation), C. M. Rouse (Nubia plantation) and Reg Beckett (Sepik River district).

Photo by Father J. Much, Bogio.