Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 13, 2024 13:00:12 GMT 12
I think I have casually read that Ex-RNZAF and Ex-NAC Douglas C-47 Dakota NZ3555/ZK-APA/5W-FAC had crashed in Samoa before, while operated by Polynesian Airlines, but I never realised that it seems almost all onboard were New Zealanders, including two of the crew. Oddly the first article states the passengers were Samoan but the piece beside it on the same page with names released has their address, and they're all NZ addresses.
I am surprised that more is not mentioned about this crash, the Kaimai crash that killed 23 people that gets loads of publicity but this one full of New Zealanders, and a much greater loss of life, seems to get no mention.
Also, was this still an NAC aircraft on lease to Polynesian Airlines, as some sources suggest, or was it sold to them?
The below articles are all from The Press, 15th of January 1970:
I am surprised that more is not mentioned about this crash, the Kaimai crash that killed 23 people that gets loads of publicity but this one full of New Zealanders, and a much greater loss of life, seems to get no mention.
Also, was this still an NAC aircraft on lease to Polynesian Airlines, as some sources suggest, or was it sold to them?
The below articles are all from The Press, 15th of January 1970:
Church Party Dies In Apia Crash
(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A) APIA, January 14.
The bodies of all 32 persons who died when a Polynesian Airlines DC-3 crashed in a lagoon just after taking off from Faleolo Airport, Apia, early this morning had been recovered, the airline said late this afternoon.
Amending the aircraft passenger list, the company said the name of an extra child had been placed on the list inadvertently.
In addition to the three crew, two of whom were New Zealand pilots, there were 29 Samoan passengers.
The company said it was not yet known what caused the accident. The findings of an official inquiry would be made public. Witnesses of the crash said a squall which struck the airfield a few seconds after the aircraft left the ground could have caused the aircraft to stall.
All flags flew at half-mast in Apia today and there was little movement in the township except a steady stream of crying relatives travelling to Apia Hospital to try to identify the badly mutilated bodies.
Many of the passengers were members of the Grey Lynn Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, who were returning to Auckland after having spent Christmas and New Year at home. They were to have joined an Air New Zealand plane at Pago Pago. Four of the group were children.
Witnesses said the aircraft went into the lagoon nose first, and fire broke out almost immediately. Only the tail piece of the aircraft is recognisable. One witness said the aircraft gained altitude, then made a left turn as if it were coming back to land, and then crashed into the lagoon. Police searchers, in dugout canoes or wading through the silty lagoon, went about their business watched by silent rows of Samoans.
Pieces of luggage were still floating ashore this afternoon, including burned pieces of woven Island mats and a child’s plastic doll, fused by the heat.
The wreckage of the aircraft will remain under police guard until the arrival of an investigating team from New Zealand.
The airline's general manager (Mr E. Hughan) has offered his condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the crash. Because of the difficulties of transporting the bodies back to New Zealand for burial the Samoan Government has suggested that the victims be buried together in a memorial grave in Samoa. Polynesian Airlines lost a plane with three crew members aboard during a training flight on May 11, 1966. The aircraft was never found.
(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A) APIA, January 14.
The bodies of all 32 persons who died when a Polynesian Airlines DC-3 crashed in a lagoon just after taking off from Faleolo Airport, Apia, early this morning had been recovered, the airline said late this afternoon.
Amending the aircraft passenger list, the company said the name of an extra child had been placed on the list inadvertently.
In addition to the three crew, two of whom were New Zealand pilots, there were 29 Samoan passengers.
The company said it was not yet known what caused the accident. The findings of an official inquiry would be made public. Witnesses of the crash said a squall which struck the airfield a few seconds after the aircraft left the ground could have caused the aircraft to stall.
All flags flew at half-mast in Apia today and there was little movement in the township except a steady stream of crying relatives travelling to Apia Hospital to try to identify the badly mutilated bodies.
Many of the passengers were members of the Grey Lynn Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, who were returning to Auckland after having spent Christmas and New Year at home. They were to have joined an Air New Zealand plane at Pago Pago. Four of the group were children.
Witnesses said the aircraft went into the lagoon nose first, and fire broke out almost immediately. Only the tail piece of the aircraft is recognisable. One witness said the aircraft gained altitude, then made a left turn as if it were coming back to land, and then crashed into the lagoon. Police searchers, in dugout canoes or wading through the silty lagoon, went about their business watched by silent rows of Samoans.
Pieces of luggage were still floating ashore this afternoon, including burned pieces of woven Island mats and a child’s plastic doll, fused by the heat.
The wreckage of the aircraft will remain under police guard until the arrival of an investigating team from New Zealand.
The airline's general manager (Mr E. Hughan) has offered his condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the crash. Because of the difficulties of transporting the bodies back to New Zealand for burial the Samoan Government has suggested that the victims be buried together in a memorial grave in Samoa. Polynesian Airlines lost a plane with three crew members aboard during a training flight on May 11, 1966. The aircraft was never found.
NAMES OF VICTIMS
(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 14.
Those killed in the Apia plane crash, as far as the police have been able to ascertain, were:
CREW Captain Stanley Irvine Arvidson, aged 38, married, with two children, of Apia, formerly of Pukekohe, the pilot.
Geoffrey Robert Church, aged 26, of Wellington, the copilot.
Miss Sianoa, a Samoan, the stewardess.
PASSENGERS
Evelyn Fane, aged 25 a factory hand, single, of 51 Cowan Street, Ponsonby.
Everade Anae, aged 20, a fitter and turner, single, of 4 Home Street, Grey Lynn.
Maria Fuatavia, aged 16, a ward maid, single, of 50 Forbes Street, Onehunga.
Afaese Taleafoa, aged 23, a builder, married, with five children all under six years, of 2 Johnstones Road, Otara.
Amarelka Leuluai, aged 26, a factory hand, single, of 60 Crummer Road, Grey Lynn.
Faavaiaai Teo, aged 26, a machinist, single, of 27 Arlki Street, Grey Lynn.
Iteutanu Vaaga, aged 32, a self-employed weaver, married, with three children, of 24 Summer Street, Grey Lynn.
Henry Faave, aged 28, a cabinet maker, married, with one child, of 7 Walmer Road, Point Chevalier.
Lena Faavae, aged 26, wife of Mr Faavae.
Gavin Faavae, aged 18 months, son of Mr and Mrs Faavae.
Mose Tafale, aged 24, a carpenter, single, of 21 Duke Street, Three Kings.
Christina Soi, aged 21, a nurse, of Samoa.
Sitivi Tuuga, aged 38, a workshop foreman, of 149 Crummer Road, Grey Lynn.
Mrs F. Tuuga, aged 30, wife of Mr Tuuga.
Teresa Tuuga, aged two: years, daughter of Mr and; Mrs Tuuga.
Filiese Tuuga, aged 10 months, son of Mr andi Mrs Tuuga.
Mrs S. Tuuga and an infant, resident in Samoa.
Ester Samuels, aged 12, a schoolgirl, daughter of Mr T. Samuels, of 36 Quona Road, Mount Roskill.
Fusi Tauaivale, aged 25, a machinist, of 36 Quona Road, Mount Roskill.
Samoa Saia, age not known, a carpenter, of 2 Home Street, Grey Lynn.
Toga Ahlan, aged about 19, shop assistant, resident in Samoa.
Jennifer Louisa Fa’avesi, aged 10, a schoolgirl, daughter of Mr Simon Fa’avesi, address not known.
Daniel Segi, aged 30. a labourer, married, of 8 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn.
Sul Segi, aged 26, married, a machinist, of 8 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn.
Richard Segi, aged four, son of Mr and Mrs Segi.
Michael Segi, aged two, son of Mr and Mrs Segi.
Peter Segi, aged one year, son of Mr and Mrs Segi.
Two others were not positively identified tonight. Those known not to have been on the flight were Mr Iere Patisepa, Mrs Losia and her two children, Mr Talaina Pepe, Elizabeth and Richard leriko, aged 18 and 15 respectively, Signfili Uele, and a Mr Esau.
(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 14.
Those killed in the Apia plane crash, as far as the police have been able to ascertain, were:
CREW Captain Stanley Irvine Arvidson, aged 38, married, with two children, of Apia, formerly of Pukekohe, the pilot.
Geoffrey Robert Church, aged 26, of Wellington, the copilot.
Miss Sianoa, a Samoan, the stewardess.
PASSENGERS
Evelyn Fane, aged 25 a factory hand, single, of 51 Cowan Street, Ponsonby.
Everade Anae, aged 20, a fitter and turner, single, of 4 Home Street, Grey Lynn.
Maria Fuatavia, aged 16, a ward maid, single, of 50 Forbes Street, Onehunga.
Afaese Taleafoa, aged 23, a builder, married, with five children all under six years, of 2 Johnstones Road, Otara.
Amarelka Leuluai, aged 26, a factory hand, single, of 60 Crummer Road, Grey Lynn.
Faavaiaai Teo, aged 26, a machinist, single, of 27 Arlki Street, Grey Lynn.
Iteutanu Vaaga, aged 32, a self-employed weaver, married, with three children, of 24 Summer Street, Grey Lynn.
Henry Faave, aged 28, a cabinet maker, married, with one child, of 7 Walmer Road, Point Chevalier.
Lena Faavae, aged 26, wife of Mr Faavae.
Gavin Faavae, aged 18 months, son of Mr and Mrs Faavae.
Mose Tafale, aged 24, a carpenter, single, of 21 Duke Street, Three Kings.
Christina Soi, aged 21, a nurse, of Samoa.
Sitivi Tuuga, aged 38, a workshop foreman, of 149 Crummer Road, Grey Lynn.
Mrs F. Tuuga, aged 30, wife of Mr Tuuga.
Teresa Tuuga, aged two: years, daughter of Mr and; Mrs Tuuga.
Filiese Tuuga, aged 10 months, son of Mr andi Mrs Tuuga.
Mrs S. Tuuga and an infant, resident in Samoa.
Ester Samuels, aged 12, a schoolgirl, daughter of Mr T. Samuels, of 36 Quona Road, Mount Roskill.
Fusi Tauaivale, aged 25, a machinist, of 36 Quona Road, Mount Roskill.
Samoa Saia, age not known, a carpenter, of 2 Home Street, Grey Lynn.
Toga Ahlan, aged about 19, shop assistant, resident in Samoa.
Jennifer Louisa Fa’avesi, aged 10, a schoolgirl, daughter of Mr Simon Fa’avesi, address not known.
Daniel Segi, aged 30. a labourer, married, of 8 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn.
Sul Segi, aged 26, married, a machinist, of 8 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn.
Richard Segi, aged four, son of Mr and Mrs Segi.
Michael Segi, aged two, son of Mr and Mrs Segi.
Peter Segi, aged one year, son of Mr and Mrs Segi.
Two others were not positively identified tonight. Those known not to have been on the flight were Mr Iere Patisepa, Mrs Losia and her two children, Mr Talaina Pepe, Elizabeth and Richard leriko, aged 18 and 15 respectively, Signfili Uele, and a Mr Esau.
Plane Built In 1945
(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 14.
The Polynesian Airlines aircraft which crashed at Apia early today was built about 1945 and was once owned by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
It was sold to the National Airways Corporation in April, 1947, and named Powheto. In 1964, N.A.C. converted it into a “skyliner,” with enlarged windows and other improvements, and renamed it Hokitika.
The corporation sold the aircraft to Polynesian Airlines in November, 1966. Polynesian Airlines, of which Air New Zealand owns 20 per cent, runs daily services between Western Samoa and American Samoa, and services to Tonga and Fiji twice weekly. The company has a second DC-3 on charter from N.A.C. and charters a Fiji Airways for its Fiji service.
(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 14.
The Polynesian Airlines aircraft which crashed at Apia early today was built about 1945 and was once owned by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
It was sold to the National Airways Corporation in April, 1947, and named Powheto. In 1964, N.A.C. converted it into a “skyliner,” with enlarged windows and other improvements, and renamed it Hokitika.
The corporation sold the aircraft to Polynesian Airlines in November, 1966. Polynesian Airlines, of which Air New Zealand owns 20 per cent, runs daily services between Western Samoa and American Samoa, and services to Tonga and Fiji twice weekly. The company has a second DC-3 on charter from N.A.C. and charters a Fiji Airways for its Fiji service.
