Interview with John Tonitto of BWRS

• For those of you who don't know him, John is one of the original searchers for MDX and was my first point of contact when i first began researching this mystery. John kindly accepted my invitation for a short interview by email.
  
  


• John, can you tell us a little about yourself.
  
  
  I am the secretary of the BWRS and have been a member since 1982. Our group has been involved in the search for MDX since its disappearance in 1981 and was first involved in the original Operation Barrington Tops. I have been fascinated with this mystery since i completed my first search for it in 1982 and have been involved ever since.
  
  


• What is the BWRS and what is it's role.
  
  BWRS is Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad formerly known as Bushwalkers Search and Rescue. We are a specialist remote area search group of the VRA ( Volunteer Rescue Association) and accredited by the state rescue board of NSW. BWRS was formed in 1936 and is one of the oldest land search groups involved in searching for and rescuing, if necessary, members of the public as directed by the NSW Police.
  
  


• How many people are in the organisation.
  
  We currently have 55 members.
  
  


• How long have you been involved in the search for MDX.
  
  As ground crew since 1982 and moved slowly into the role of organising searches with other agencies based on input from experts in interpreting the final transcripts of MDX.
  
  


• What areas are you conducting your search in and why.
  
  As you may be aware, there is very little information to go on based on radar fixes and the unknown time period or direction after those fixes. Best guesses are used and with navigation software search areas are established. Currently we are looking in the Allyn and Paterson river systems.
  
  


• Can you tell us how you conduct your search.
  
  A search area is divided into what we believe are manageable areas for a weekend team. Given the steepness of the terrain and thickness of vegetation at times, a team can search approx 500 square metres over a weekend.
  
  


• Can anyone join the BWR and help search for the plane.
  
  BWRS accepts anyone that has bush skills and can remain self contained in the field for 72 hours.
  
  


• What do the need to do.
  
  They can contact me on secretary@bwrs.org.au
  
  


• What do you think happened to MDX.
  
  I believe given the conditions and the audio tape that it crashed under very difficult conditions. The problem for a search party is that had it crashed headlong into ground that the resultant debris would be about 1 metre to 1.5 metre diameter hole. If it paralleled the ground before impact then more debris ( wings etc) will be found.
  
  


• Why do you think there is so much interest in the plane after all these years.
  
  I am not sure what might drive others, but to find the oldest domestic aviation accident in Australia and solve the cause of it would be of major interest.
  
  


• What keeps you coming back year after year.
  
  I like to believe that all incidents in the bush are resolved. So i would love to solve the mystery and bring closure for the families.