Air Fatality Off Fiji
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Suva, Feb. 1.
ARNZAF Catalina crashed into the sea near the Island of Beqa, south of Suva, on Saturday, January 27.
Five RNZAF personnel, and one Fijian civilian employee of the Base, were picked up by the local cutter, “Tui Vuni lagi,” close to Kadavu, on Sunday, after they had been afloat and drifting in rubber dinghies for about 22 hours. Later they were flown back to the Base by one of the aircraft engaged in the search for the lost plane. None of the survivors was seriously injured in the crash. Twelve other members of the crew are still missing. . „ „ . „ Captain Whippy, of the “Tui Vunilagi, said that when he sighted the dinghies they were close to the south end of Kadavu, the most southerly island in Fiji, and the direction of the wind and currents might possibly have made it difficult for the missing men to reach land.
Miss Esme Brown, who at one time was on the staff of Morris Hedstrom. Ltd., Suva. Fiji, is a member of an Australian Red Cross Unit which will shortly leave for Greece for rehabilitation work.