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Crash Victims [?]econd Drover Down in Sea off NG

Port Moresby residents had some crowded hours of excite ent in mid-April. In the middle of e adventure they sat as quietly as issible in a rubber dinghy, made for T), but apart from this hiatus the bole thing was carried through with e speed characteristic of the air ;e.

The men were Captain C. R. Hib ;rt, acting Regional Director of Lvil Aviation, P-NG; Mr. T, P. ruery, acting safety officer of the me department; and Mr. L. Sheedy, the Attorney General’s Depart ent.

Their April adventure went some ing like this: 3.30 p.m., April 16—Leave Wewak a de Havilland Drover plane, loted by Captain Hibbert, for omote (Manus). 4.30 p.m.—Without warning and ith loud explosion, port propellor eers off bearings, cuts fuel line, ars through cockpit and breaks ibbert’s foot. Two other motors

stop, and Hibbert slumps over con trols. 4.31-35 p.m.—Druery leaps to cockpit, pulls dazed pilot clear, takes controls, pulls plane out of screaming dive and although he has not before piloted Drover makes perfect land ing in sea. Sheedy inflates two-man rubber dinghy.

4.49 p.m.—All aboard dinghy; plane sunk; tourniquet applied to Hibbert’s leg. 4.45 p.m.—Sheedy and Druery at work on portable radio transmitter.

Distress signal picked up at Momote, 90 miles away and at Wewak. RAAF crash-boat and Qantas DC3 alerted. 6 p.m.—Qantas DC3 locates ding

y just before dark. Crash-boat on s way from Manus. Qantas planes eep watch over dinghy and guide ;scue boat. 3 a.m., April 17—RAAF Crash nat arrives and picks up three men om dinghy. Heads for Manus. 10.30 a.m.—Three men arrive in ort Moresby having flown from [anus by Catalina. Hibbert taken • hospital.

Captain Hibbert arrived in Sydney id was taken to a private hospital i April 21.

Courage, presence of mind and flcient air-sea rescue organisation ived the day for these men.

This is the second Drover plane i crash in the sea off New Guinea, ast year a Qantas Drover crashed T Lae and the pilot and five pas ngers were killed.