Attempted Rescue Off

Aitutaki

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, July 14.

A UNITED STATES transport plane which was making the regular mail and supply circuit between the American stations in Samoa, Aitutaki and Penrhyn, was forced down into the sea north of Aitutaki on June 29.

The plane had left Aitutaki at 7 a.m. that morning on its way to Penrhyn, a trip which usually takes hours. Accord ing to usual practice, the Aitutaki “beam” was witched off at a certain time, leav ing the plane to the Penrhyn “beam.”

When the Aitutaki radio went on the air again at 4.30 p.m. for the regular sched ule with Penryn, an urgent message was received saying that the plane had not landed at Penrhyn and was on its way back to Aitutaki. Contact was then made with the plane and it was learned that the Penrhyn “beam” had failed and the plane had not been able to locate the island. Shortly afterwards the airmen signalled that they were out of gas and coming down on the sea about 60 miles north of Aitutaki. The time was 5.30 p.m.

The “Tahitienne” which had arrived off Aitutaki that afternoon was the only res cue ship available, but she was around J on the lee-side of the island, riding out a , heavy sea, and her skipper, Mr. Shortall, , was ashore. The US Commanding Offi cer at Aitutaki, with Mr. Shortall, the ; US doctor and a couple of native volun teers manned a heavily-laden US launch j and tried to reach the “Tahitienne,” but; such a sea was beating on the passage ; through the reef that the launch could J not make it.

They turned back and crossed the f lagoon to the far side of the island, where £ attempts were made to signal the “Tahi tienne.” The crew still on her could not: understand Morse, however, and Mr..

Shortall finally volunteered to attempt toe cross the reef in a small dinghy.

This effort failed also. The dinghy be- came stuck on the reef and only after i strenuous efforts did Shortall regain thee lagoon.

Reluctantly the attempt to contact thee schooner had to be abandoned until day break.

It had been planned that several planesa would arrive at dawn to locate the air men and direct the “Tahitienne.” Twoo Catalinas started out from Pago Pago, ae Sunderland left Suva and the RNZAF*3 mail plane left Rarotonga at the first! sign of dawn. The launch attempted thes passage at daybreak and succeeded inn getting to sea, but before it had pro ceeded far it was recalled by signals fromn the shore.

A radio message had been received re porting the rescue of the air-crew at 5.30) a.m. by a French steamer bound fromi Vila to Tahiti.

One Catalina, which landed at Aitutaki,! later proceeded to Tahiti to pick up the?! rescue'd men.

A radio-telephone service between; Australia and Nauru was opened on< August 5. A 3-minute call will cost 30/*' (Aust.).