In American Samoa

Trans Oceanic Plane Forced Down In American Samoa

A SUNDERLAND flying-boat, belong ing to Trans Oceanic Airways, of , Sydney, when on a charter flight from Tahiti to Western Samoa, was forced down by engine trouble on the iagoon at the western end of the island of Tau, in the Manua Group, American Samoa, on May 4. It came to no harm, repairs were effected by the crew, and the plane got away again, to Apia, two days later. . T he plane left Sydney on April 18 for Noumea Suva, Apia and Tahiti, on a charter flight connected with a film en terprise. It carried a crew of six. and among 17 passengers were half a dozen, or more round-trip tourists. The Ad ministrator of Western Samoa, Lieut - Colonel F. W Voelcker. joined the plane m Apia, for Tahiti, and was returning in it to Apia when the mishap occurred.

Captain Brian Monckton, managing director of Trans Oceanic Airways was in charge of the plane.

Ame P cans a t Pago Pago sent a naval vessel at once to the aid of the plane, and that vessel took the passengers from Tau to Apia, where the plane, after resuming its flight, picked them up.