Ng’S Flying Doctor

Tragic Death Of

Officials’ Narrow Escape

(Prom Our Own Correspondent) MADANG, March 2. rpERRITORIAL residents were X shocked to learn of the sudden, tragic death of Doctor John Mclnerney, who was killed on March 1 when his Auster aircraft crashed into the sea at Vanimo, im mediately after taking off.

Two passengers, Assistant District Commissioner lan Skinner, of Wewak, and District Officer George Wearne, of Aitape, were both rescued and flown to Lae Hospital, where their condition is now satis factory.

The doctor’s body was not re covered until to-day, and it is being flown to Wewak for burial.

The aircraft was taking off from Vanimo (near the British-Dutch border on the north coast) but failed to gain height, and crashed 150 yards from shore. Both passengers had a remarkable escape from death; but the doctor, who received severe head injuries, was apparently knocked unconscious and drowned.

The whole District mourns the loss of this man, whose charitable work at all times, and under any circumstances, earned him respect and devotion, not only from people in the Sepik District, where he was District Medical Officer, but from the whole Territory, where he and his aircraft were known so well. It is a severe loss to all the lonely Patrol Posts, Agriculture, Medical and Mission stations which often relied on him for food and other emergency supplies as well as medical service.