SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 7

SHOCKING TRAGEDY.

Lord Mayor of London's Airman Son Killed. WIFE AMONG SPECTATORS. LONDON, July I. A shocking fatality occurred yesterday at the pageant of the Royal Air Force at Hendon, just as the Princo of Wales had alighted from his own aeroplane, in the presence of 60,000 spectators. Two regular and two auxiliary squadrons totalling 18 aeroplanes began a demonstration of formation flying. The machines were circling over the crowd at a speed of 120 miles an hour, when the engine of an auxiliary twoseater Hawker Hart day-bomber suddenly cut out.

The pilot swerved violently to avoid the spectators and the machine went into a spiral dive and nose-dived to the ground at the far side of the aerodrome in full sight of the spectators, who were aghast when they heard the noise of the crash. A large column of smoke immediately arose from the aeroplane as it burst into flames. The observer, Squadron-Leader S. P. Collett, son of Sir Charles Collett, Lord Mayor of London, was trapped in I the cockpit and burnt to death. The pilot, Flying-Officer R. F. Lea, escaped with slight injuries. In accordance with the tradition of the Air Force, the squadrons carried on the display and the programme was continued. > The Prince of Wales, from the Royal stand, immediately sent a message of condolence to the Lord Mayor. Squad-ron-Leader Collett's wife was attending the pageant and collapsed. She was escorted from the aerodrome. Deceased had served in the Air Force during the war, and at the time of his death was commanding the City of London Squadron to which the day-bomber belonged.