Survival

In December 1956 a Bristol Freighter of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was on a supply dropping mission over virgin jungle east of the Cameron Highlands,those on board comprised three RNZAF crew members,four RASC air despatchers and two cameramen from the Malayan Film Unit who were making a documentary for the New Zealand Govt;one of the RASC despatchers was Dvr.Lee of 55 Coy.Rasc.Radio contact with the plane was lost about midday and the wreckage was spotted by a search plane later that afternoon on a steep ridge at an elevation of some 4,000 feet.Efforts were made by the Special Air Service Regiment to parachute onto the crash site from a helicopter but due to poor weather conditions and approaching darkness this proved to be impossible,the SAS patrol was eventually landed in a clearing approximately 2,000 yards from the crash site.During the next two days the weather conditions were so bad that flying was impossible (it was the monsoon season) and it was not until the morning of the third day that an Auster was able to locate the crash site and guide the SAS patrol to it although in fact they were within 200 yards by this time.The patrol found that the plane had exploded and burnt on impact with wreckage strewn over a wide area,the patrol searched the surroundings but found no sign of life and it was presumed that all on board were killed.After carrying out site clear up duties the patrol withdrew.Also at the crash site was a patrol of the 4th.Malay Regt.who had trackers with them and these trackers noticed what appeared to be a crude one man shelter amongst the debris of the crash,subsequent investigation revealed a faint trail leading away. In spite of the incessant rain the trackers were able to follow the trail and after approximately 1,000 yards the patrol discovered a small newly built shelter;the patrol were unsure who they were following but as no effort had been made at camouflage it was thought unlikely to be a terrorist.Over the next two days two more shelters were found and it could now be seen that the shelter builder was following a stream downhill,this is standard Army survival procedure so the patrol were now sure they were following a crash survivor; to speed things up a second Malay Regt.patrol was sent to follow the river up from the jungle edge.In the following days the patrol moving downstream found four more shelters and on the 21st.December met up with the other patrol but there was no sign of their quarry;however the patrol coming up river had not seen any shelters so it was assumed that they were close. A voice aircraft was flown over and broadcast a message for the survivor to move back to the river where the patrols were waiting for him. On Dec.22nd.,12 days after the crash,Dvr.Lee R.A.S.C.walked in to the patrol;he had burns to his hands and arms and a broken left ankle but,otherwise,was in good shape; the patrol estimated that at his present rate of progress Dvr.Lee would have arrived at the Cameron Highlands road within seven days. Of the crash,Dvr.Lee had no clear recollection,regaining conciousness in the jungle some 100 yards downhill,he could hear the plane burning but could not see it,after some time he scrambled back to the crash site but there were no survivors. After two days at the crash site Dvr.Lee assumed that the wreckage had not been found so decided to strike out on his own,after making a knapsack out of parachute material and collecting some tins of Gurkha rations that had been thrown clear he set off.During his ordeal Dvr.Lee built seven shelters,covered six miles in a straight line,although much more over the ground,and when found still had rations for a further ten days. The delay in linking with the Malay Regt.patrols was due to Dvr.Lee coming across the patrols' footprints and,thinking they might be terrorists, hiding until he heard


	Survival In December 1956 a Bristol Freighter of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was on a supply dropping mission over virgin jungle east of the Cameron Highlands,those on board comprised three RNZAF crew members,four RASC air despatchers and two cameramen from the Malayan Film Unit who were making a documentary for the New Zealand Govt;one of the RASC despatchers was Dvr.Lee of 55 Coy.Rasc.Radio contact with the plane was lost about midday and the wreckage was spotted by a search plane later that afternoon on a steep ridge at an elevation of some 4,000 feet.Efforts were made by the Special Air Service Regiment to parachute onto the crash site from a helicopter but due to poor weather conditions and approaching darkness this proved to be impossible,the SAS patrol was eventually landed in a clearing approximately 2,000 yards from the crash site.During the next two days the weather conditions were so bad that flying was impossible (it was the monsoon season) and it was not until the morning of the third day that an Auster was able to locate the crash site and guide the SAS patrol to it although in fact they were within 200 yards by this time.The patrol found that the plane had exploded and burnt on impact with wreckage strewn over a wide area,the patrol searched the surroundings but found no sign of life and it was presumed that all on board were killed.After carrying out site clear up duties the patrol withdrew.Also at the crash site was a patrol of the 4th.Malay Regt.who had trackers with them and these trackers noticed what appeared to be a crude one man shelter amongst the debris of the crash,subsequent investigation revealed a faint trail leading away. In spite of the incessant rain the trackers were able to follow the trail and after approximately 1,000 yards the patrol discovered a small newly built shelter;the patrol were unsure who they were following but as no effort had been made at camouflage it was thought unlikely to be a terrorist.Over the next two days two more shelters were found and it could now be seen that the shelter builder was following a stream downhill,this is standard Army survival procedure so the patrol were now sure they were following a crash survivor; to speed things up a second Malay Regt.patrol was sent to follow the river up from the jungle edge.In the following days the patrol moving downstream found four more shelters and on the 21st.December met up with the other patrol but there was no sign of their quarry;however the patrol coming up river had not seen any shelters so it was assumed that they were close. A voice aircraft was flown over and broadcast a message for the survivor to move back to the river where the patrols were waiting for him. On Dec.22nd.,12 days after the crash,Dvr.Lee R.A.S.C.walked in to the patrol;he had burns to his hands and arms and a broken left ankle but,otherwise,was in good shape; the patrol estimated that at his present rate of progress Dvr.Lee would have arrived at the Cameron Highlands road within seven days. Of the crash,Dvr.Lee had no clear recollection,regaining conciousness in the jungle some 100 yards downhill,he could hear the plane burning but could not see it,after some time he scrambled back to the crash site but there were no survivors. After two days at the crash site Dvr.Lee assumed that the wreckage had not been found so decided to strike out on his own,after making a knapsack out of parachute material and collecting some tins of Gurkha rations that had been thrown clear he set off.During his ordeal Dvr.Lee built seven shelters,covered six miles in a straight line,although much more over the ground,and when found still had rations for a further ten days. The delay in linking with the Malay Regt.patrols was due to Dvr.Lee coming across the patrols' footprints and,thinking they might be terrorists, hiding until he heard the flyover broadcast.(Latest news is that Tom Lee is alive and well and living in Manchester,last seen at the Air Despatch reunion October 2000) BACK / HOME