The Demise of VH-PAT at Bereina, 8 April, 1961
The full story is in 'Balus 2' , Ch2 - p23-24, and the pic is on p33. Simply told, a full load of medical supplies, including laboratory chemicals, broke open during loading, and proceded to fast corrode the DC-3, which was en route Moresby - Minj. Then it caught fire, and there can't be much worse than a chemical fire in flight. An emergency descent was made into Bereina,and everyone jumped from the cockpit. The whole thing then burnt.
Patti Gollum was a US citizen in Sydney on holidays in 1960 where she joined Butler Air Transport, and then Airlines of NSW, crewing on DC-3, F27 and Convairs. She went to Port Moresby in late 1960, and became Patairs' first F/A.
She had worked for Patair for several months on DC-3's, and that morning had done a Kokoda pax flight. She was then offered a ride up to Minj and back, on what was to become the last flight of VH-PAT. She injured her hip in the jump from the cockpit, but returned to duties about 4 weeks later - leaving TPNG later in 1961 to return to the USA.
Through purchasing an aircraft in Arizona in 1989, we met Patti Gollum. She had very clear memories of her adventures with Patair, and swears to this day that without Myles Lewis in command - they were looking at a rough trip.
Patti produced her logbook, and sure enough, all her PNG flying was meticulously recorded. One of the Captains later became my CP in Moresby - a real co-incidence
We recently saw Patti again in Mesa, Arizona, where she lives a quiet life on a golf resort. She is an active and alert 69 year old now, but fondly remembers her PNG days.
Thought this might be informative for you 'taim bipoa' crew.
happy days,