Richard Shuttleworth Charged With Hitting Powerlines

[Dave Homewood]

I came across this report about Hudson and Ventura pilot Dick Shuttleworth, who many will remember as a powerboat racer and restorer of old engines (including the Cheetahs on Bill Reid's Anson, I believe). I wonder if anyone has more details of this accident, what was he flying for example? It was in the Auckland Star on the 3rd of March 1945, just two days after he was in the newspapers having been presented the US Air Medal. Did he get punished?:

CHARGES AGAINST AIRMAN

POWER LINES COLLISION

P.A. PALMERSTON N., this day.
Charges of flying an aircraft in the vicinity of Nelson on November 11, 1944, at a height of less than 2000 ft and of colliding with electric power lines, thereby causing damage to the aircraft to the extent of £7 10/, were preferred against Flying-Officer Richard Lucas Shuttleworth at a court martial at Ohakea this week. Group-Captain C. E. Kay presided. It was stated in the course of lengthy evidence that accused was making a flight from Ohakea to Nelson, thence to Woodbourne and back to Ohakea. The accident occurred shortly after his taking off from Nelson. The court's findings will be promulgated.

[davidd]

This accident has puzzled me for some time. Shuttleworth was on strength of the Ohakea Maintenance Wing from August 1944 till February 1945, so could have been flying a Ventura or Hudson or even a Harvard when this incident occurred. Will require further scratching among the bushes.
David D

[camtech]

I note an earlier report in the Press 26 Apr 44 concerning one of his exploits: Text not corrected.
FORCED DOWN IN SEA

♦ U.S. AIRMAN RESCUED UNDER FIRE NEW ZEALAND AIRCRAFT TAKE PART (.R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) MUNDA, April 23 In one of the most, dramatic alia perilous sea rescues of the south Pad fic, two Venturas of the R o v a i Nil Zealand Air Force were instrument in saving the lives of three American flyers whose aircraft crashed off JjT anese occupied Ballale Island, soya of Bougainville; Japanese shore batter, ies plastered the area with intense mj accurate shellfire, and although thev failed to prevent the rescue, their gu/ nery score was two Catalinas and three escorting Lightnings damaged.

An American Ventura was'hit-by flak over Mahili. the gunner beint killed outright, and the machine badly damaged. Its bombs were jettisoned over the small island, and an attempt was made to reach the nearest Allied base, but the aircraft was unable to maintain height, and crashed four mite from Ballale. One member of tla crew was critically wounded, and late: died aboard a liferaft.

Meanwhile a New Zealand Ventuia.’ piloted by Flying Officer A. R. Miller-; of Auckland, and including in its ere* Flying Officer H. F. Gault (Christ* church), Pilot Officer O’Sullivs* (Auckland), Flying Officer B. R. Phi|m (Amberley), and Sergeant D. p. ■ nett (Nelson), was returning fromV; patrol down the coast of Boughinvuto when the American aircraft was set# V dropping bombs, and apparent making a low-level attack on Ballafe Shortly afterwards the New Zealand** looked again, to see smoke and rising 150 feet. They turned haid tot port, and, arriving over the spot, saw., burning wreckage, and the four survivors huddled together in the watte with no Mae Wests, liferafts, or oths' emergency gear. \ Rubber Dinghies Dropped , A second New Zealand Ventura, with Flying Officer R. L. Shuttleworth (Nel* son) as pilot, and Flight Sergeant L Millar (Auckland), Warrant Officer it G. Hoskings (Waipara). and IWm Officer N. D. McKay (Wellington) m crew, was on its way north on a patrol mission, and noticing that somethin* was amiss, also made for the Both aircraft ran in low, and dropMg ; rubber dinghies, which fell within five’ yards of the men. Flying Officer Shuttleworth flew off to an island held ; - by the Allies, while his companion mained nearby to prevent a possible, Japanese attempt to capture the sup. - vivors by boat from Ballale. At the Allied base the Ventura de. livered a message by hand, then to join in circling over the dinghies. Escorted by four Lightnings,’ •» “dumbo” (a Catalina flying-boat engaged’in air sea rescue arrived, and, led in by Flying Officer : Shuttleworth, made a good landing on the water. While the Catalina was taxi-ing to the survivors, Ballale opened up wifi four or five-inch guns, overshooting at first but improving the range untllshells were bursting all round the rescuers and circling Venturas. When the Lightnings saw the enemy firing, they dropped their belly tanks, and ; ’ streaked down on Bellale in strafing ' attacks in an endeavour to silence' the guns. A Defying danger, the “dumbo” picked: up three survivors and took- off, leav* ing two of the crew with the wounded man. Just as it moved away a shell : landed right on the spot where it had been. Soon afterwards another Catalina, patrolling off Buka, intercepted the; New Zealanders’ report of the finding’ of survivors, and flew down over the , area. Sighting the two . dinghies in . the water, it landed and picked up the remaining men amid a rain of shells from Ballale A third Catalina appeared, and te ; ceived the same hot reception when It alighted to investigate the dinghies. The New Zealand Venturas were not hit, and after escorting the “dumbo” out of the danger area, Flying Officer Miller returned to base to refuel, white; Flying Officer Shuttleworth resumed his patrol.

Shuttleworth later was awarded a US Air Medal for this exploit

[camtech]

Aug 13, 2018 8:40:25 GMT 12 davidd said:

This accident has puzzled me for some time. Shuttleworth was on strength of the Ohakea Maintenance Wing from August 1944 till February 1945, so could have been flying a Ventura or Hudson or even a Harvard when this incident occurred. Will require further scratching among the bushes.
David D

Yes interesting - the incident does not appear to have caused an accident report to be raised. The only records I have of wire stikes in that period are for Tiger Moths at Taieri and Harewood.
Also, like Dave, haven't been able to find the results of the court martial being published.

[Dave Homewood]

I'm glad I am not the only one puzzled. It must have been quite a week for him, hailed a hero and then a Court Martial two days later.

[nuuumannn]

including the Cheetahs on Bill Reid's Anson, I believe

Nope, they were done by Don McKenzie. Works in the prop shop at Safe Air, sorry Airbus.

[Dave Homewood]

Dick had them before they went there though Grant, from what Dick told me himself.