Thirty divers to search Gulf for crashed aircraft"

ADELAIDE: A major underwater search for a World War II aircraft is to begin at the weekend in Spencer Gulf, near Port Pirie.

About 30 divers will begin the search for the British Fairey Battle aircraft L5759 which crashed into the sea in August, 1942, killing its pilot and gunner. The search has the backing of the Port Pirie City Council, and underwater experts stationed at the Edin-burgh RAAF base near Adelaide may take part.

It will centre on a section of the gulf near the entrance to Second Creek and will begin with a preliminary photographic study of the area.

The idea of the underwater search was suggested some months ago by Alderman Ken Madigan, who was researching Port Pirie's involvement in training flyers during the war years. Port Pirie was the site of a Bombing and Air Gunnery School which trained more than 5,000 airmen for combat in a variety of Allied aircraft. A number of Fairey Battles were stationed at Pirie.

The L5759 was one of a number which crashed in the area during training exercises but unlike others, which were recovered and scrapped, it was never found.

Alderman Madigan believes the divers have an excellent chance of recovering large sections of the plane since the recent discovery of a wing flap, complete with oil lines, which was in reasonable condition.

The events surrounding the crash are unknown; records show only the day and time the aircraft was lost. The pilot, Sergeant Reuben Maurice Plummer, and the gunner, Leslie Gaunt Price, were the crew. Their bodies were never recovered.

If the aircraft is found, its condition will be assessed and a decision made on whether to try to recover it. Alderman Madigan said it would be costly to recover it, but the council was optimistic and hoped to be able to display the aircraft at the city's airport.

No-one was making promises yet, as an underwater search mounted after a lapse of more than 40 years was fraught with difficulty.

"The plane could have drifted, it could be buried or it could have disintegrated when it hit the water," he said. "We know it spiralled into the sea when it crashed, which suggests it might have broken up more than originally thought. We just hope it's in good enough condition to be recovered."

As well as the possible salvage operation, Port Pirie council recently honoured those who trained at the gunnery school during the war with the publication of a book.

The book explains the role of the city in training flyers and pays special tribute to the 24 airmen who died during exercises in the area.