The Riddle of the Stinson

In 1937, a Stinson Model A airliner takes off from Brisbane in stormy weather with two crew and five passengers on board, bound for Sydney via Lismore. The aircraft vanishes en route, and officials assume it crashed into the ocean after being buffeted by the downdrafts. Search efforts focus east toward the coast, where rescue teams expect to find debris or wreckage.

Officials quickly conclude the plane probably crashed into the ocean off the Queensland coast due to the storm and mountain downdrafts, guiding search efforts toward the expected oceanic crash site. However, Bernard O'Reilly, who lives in the nearby McPherson Range, harbours a different theory about where the wreckage lies.

O'Reilly's intimate knowledge of the Range leads him to suspect the Stinson did not vanish at sea but crashed within the McPherson Range itself. He begins formulating a plan to search the mountains and valley floors for signs of the wreckage and survivors. His theory contrasts with the official ocean-focused search and sets up the rescue effort to come.

The Stinson is believed to have been caught in severe downdrafts and crashes into a thickly forested valley in the McPherson Range. Both air-crew and two passengers are killed, leaving three survivors: Proud with a severely injured leg, and Binstead and Westray unhurt. The crash site lies high in challenging terrain far from any obvious help.

Westray volunteers to walk through the valley to get help, determined to raise the alarm. He unsuccessfully tries to buoy Proud's spirits by pretending a town is visible from a nearby lookout and that aid will arrive soon. His sacrifice illustrates the initial scramble to secure rescue.

Binstead stays with Proud, keeping him alive while the pair wait for help. He discovers an intact thermos flask in the wreckage and carries it some distance down the slope to fetch water from a small waterfall, returning to Proud as best he can. The harsh terrain and dwindling supplies begin to wear him down.

As days pass, Binstead grows weak with hunger and fatigue and can no longer make repeated trips to fetch water. Despite his effort, the return trips become increasingly dangerous, threatening the fragile life of Proud. The bond between survivors underscores the mounting tension in the mountains.

Ten days after the crash, a local reports seeing the Stinson pass low overhead in bad weather, prompting renewed interest. Bernard O'Reilly, an experienced bushman, enters the Range alone to locate the wreckage, not expecting anyone to be alive but determined to try. The new information shifts the search toward inland terrain.

After trekking for a day, O'Reilly reaches a crest above the valley and spots a small brown patch among the trees. He contemplates that it might be a burned area, but pushes on through the dense undergrowth toward the patch. The discovery marks the first potential sign of survivors or wreckage.

O'Reilly finds Proud and Binstead cold and starved but alive, a remarkable and fragile recovery in the harsh terrain. He provides water, builds a fire, and leaves food behind before beginning the return journey to fetch help. The moment confirms that human endurance can triumph even in remote mountains.

On the way back, O'Reilly discovers the corpse of Westray, who had died of injuries incurred during the crash. The grim find underscores the dangers faced by the trio from the moment of impact. The rescue mission now has a clear picture of the losses endured.

O'Reilly makes it out of the valley and alerts the local community, who marshal a large rescue party back to the crash site. Proud and Binstead are carried out to safety, thanks to the joint effort of the locals and O'Reilly's reconnaissance. The successful extraction marks the culmination of an arduous search.

O'Reilly is praised for heroism but deflects credit to Westray and Binstead, saying the real heroes are those who kept hope alive. He watches a newsreel with his wife, showing the rescue, and leaves the theatre early to avoid recognition. The episode highlights his modest character amid sudden celebrity.