Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 1 May 1943, page 3


SURVIVORS WERE 18 HOURS IN

SEA BEFORE RESCUE

Flyingboat Tragedy

SYDNEY, Fri: Capt A. A. Koch, pilot of the Qantas flyingboat which was lost at a northern port last week, is on leave in Sydney. He is one of 5 survivors. Thirteen men are listed as missing.

Flying blind in a heavy storm, the plane was forced down in the sea at night about 3 miles from shore. Capt Koch said he was 18 hours swimming in the water before he and his com-panions were rescued. They were carried by a strong current 2 or 3 miles farther out to sea before launches and canoes arrived on the

scene.

This is the second time Capt Koch has had to swim for his life. On January 30, 1942, he had to swim 3 miles to safety after the Qantas flyingboat he was piloting was shot down by Zeros during a flight from Darwin to Koepang.