Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 31, 2015 12:25:36 GMT 12
An article from the Auckland Star dated the 31st of August 1940:
PLANE CRASHES
PILOT LOST.
DOWN IN SEA.
COMPANION INJURED.
----------------------
NARROW NECK SENSATION.
----------------------
A Tiger Moth aeroplane of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, from the Hobsonville air station, crashed into the sea about 600 yards off the Narrow Neck Beach shortly after ten o'clock this morning. It sank almost at once. Pilot-Officer Boyd Victor Le Pine, aged 24, of Wellington, one of the crew of two, was rescued by the port examination launch and taken to the Auckland Hospital. His injuries consisted of severe concussion, shock and lacerations to the face, knees and arms.
Pilot-Officer Robert Michael Goldstone, aged 21, of Wanganui, the other member of the crew, is believed to have been drowned. Efforts to extricate Pilot-Officer Goldstone were made by the crew of the examining vessel.
What Residents Say.
North Shore residents saw the Tiger Moth down harbour, perform aerobatics over the Rangitoto Channel and then go into a bank. The 'plane went into a dive, variously estimated from 200 ft to 1000 ft. The accident happened so quickly that eye-witness accounts vary. The naval examination vessel, anchored about 500 yds away, was on the way to the scene of the crash within a minute. The tail of the 'plane was still above water when the examination vessel, a small trawler, arrived.
Pilot-Officer Le Pine was seen to crawl out to the tail, and was taken aboard the trawler. Almost immediately, before a rope could be attached to the sinking 'plane, the Tiger Moth disappeared. The area was then buoyed, so as to mark the spot, as rescue operations were hampered by a fast, ebbing tide. Two dinghies began to operate.
Leaving the dinghies, the examination ship headed for port at full speed, taking Pilot-Officer Le Pine to the naval base, for conveyance to the Auckland Hospital by St. John ambulance.
Routine Training Flight.
The examination vessel sent a Morse message to the shore authorities, advising that air force personnel had been involved in a crash. Both Pilot-Officer Goldstone and Pilot-Officer Le Pine belonged to the Instructors' School at Hobsonville. They had been at the air station only a few weeks after completing the usual course of pilot training at a South Island station. Their flight this morning was a routine training flight.
Port Promptly Closed.
During operations at the scene of the crash the port was closed. A small vessel which attempted to enter port during this period was pulled up short by two bursts of machine-gun fire from one of tho coastal defence stations. Warned by the bullets whistling across her bows, her skipper put about and anchored nearby. The port was reopened about midday.
Scores of civilians along Narrow Neck Beach watched the rescue operations, as did several hundred officers and men at the Narrow Neck camp and nearby coastal defence stations. Fairly thick, misty rain was falling during the search for Pilot-Officer Goldstone. Two naval launches appeared on the scene shortly after the examination vessel had sent the Morse message.
Next-of-Kin.
According to information received by the police, Pilot-Officers Goldstone and Le Pine left Hobsonville at 9.15 a.m. to-day, in the Tiger Moth 'plane, D.H. 88, a two-seater aeroplane fitted with dual control.
Next-of-kin of Pilot-Officer Goldstone is given as his father, Mr. J. Goldstone, of 21, College Street, Wanganui, and that of Pilot-Officer Le Pine, as his mother, Mrs. V. Le Pine, 101, Barnett Street, Island Park, Wellington.
The condition of Pilot-Officer Le Pine was stated at 3 p.m. to be improving but still serious.
PLANE CRASHES
PILOT LOST.
DOWN IN SEA.
COMPANION INJURED.
----------------------
NARROW NECK SENSATION.
----------------------
A Tiger Moth aeroplane of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, from the Hobsonville air station, crashed into the sea about 600 yards off the Narrow Neck Beach shortly after ten o'clock this morning. It sank almost at once. Pilot-Officer Boyd Victor Le Pine, aged 24, of Wellington, one of the crew of two, was rescued by the port examination launch and taken to the Auckland Hospital. His injuries consisted of severe concussion, shock and lacerations to the face, knees and arms.
Pilot-Officer Robert Michael Goldstone, aged 21, of Wanganui, the other member of the crew, is believed to have been drowned. Efforts to extricate Pilot-Officer Goldstone were made by the crew of the examining vessel.
What Residents Say.
North Shore residents saw the Tiger Moth down harbour, perform aerobatics over the Rangitoto Channel and then go into a bank. The 'plane went into a dive, variously estimated from 200 ft to 1000 ft. The accident happened so quickly that eye-witness accounts vary. The naval examination vessel, anchored about 500 yds away, was on the way to the scene of the crash within a minute. The tail of the 'plane was still above water when the examination vessel, a small trawler, arrived.
Pilot-Officer Le Pine was seen to crawl out to the tail, and was taken aboard the trawler. Almost immediately, before a rope could be attached to the sinking 'plane, the Tiger Moth disappeared. The area was then buoyed, so as to mark the spot, as rescue operations were hampered by a fast, ebbing tide. Two dinghies began to operate.
Leaving the dinghies, the examination ship headed for port at full speed, taking Pilot-Officer Le Pine to the naval base, for conveyance to the Auckland Hospital by St. John ambulance.
Routine Training Flight.
The examination vessel sent a Morse message to the shore authorities, advising that air force personnel had been involved in a crash. Both Pilot-Officer Goldstone and Pilot-Officer Le Pine belonged to the Instructors' School at Hobsonville. They had been at the air station only a few weeks after completing the usual course of pilot training at a South Island station. Their flight this morning was a routine training flight.
Port Promptly Closed.
During operations at the scene of the crash the port was closed. A small vessel which attempted to enter port during this period was pulled up short by two bursts of machine-gun fire from one of tho coastal defence stations. Warned by the bullets whistling across her bows, her skipper put about and anchored nearby. The port was reopened about midday.
Scores of civilians along Narrow Neck Beach watched the rescue operations, as did several hundred officers and men at the Narrow Neck camp and nearby coastal defence stations. Fairly thick, misty rain was falling during the search for Pilot-Officer Goldstone. Two naval launches appeared on the scene shortly after the examination vessel had sent the Morse message.
Next-of-Kin.
According to information received by the police, Pilot-Officers Goldstone and Le Pine left Hobsonville at 9.15 a.m. to-day, in the Tiger Moth 'plane, D.H. 88, a two-seater aeroplane fitted with dual control.
Next-of-kin of Pilot-Officer Goldstone is given as his father, Mr. J. Goldstone, of 21, College Street, Wanganui, and that of Pilot-Officer Le Pine, as his mother, Mrs. V. Le Pine, 101, Barnett Street, Island Park, Wellington.
The condition of Pilot-Officer Le Pine was stated at 3 p.m. to be improving but still serious.