MASCOT TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 13

MASCOT TRAGEDY.

A FATAL INFERNO.

'PLANE BURSTS INTO FLAMES.

SON SEES MOTHER'S AWFUL

DEATH.

SYDNEY, January 25

The tragedy at the Kingsford Smith Aeeodrome, Mascot, yesterday, when three women, including the well-known aviatrix Miss May Bradford, were burned to death while rescuers were kept back l>y the intense heat of the flames, was one of the worst in the rlying history of the State.

]• rum the chan-ed remains of Miss Bradford's 'plane police last night were able to establish the identity of the passengers. One was Mise Harriet Jane Coley, aged about 40, dressmaker, who lived at 2(i, Bayswater Road, King's Cross. She came from New Zealand. The other victim was Miss Ellen Latimer. also aged about 40, of Wunulla Itoad, Hose Bay, a recent arrival from England.

Son Witnesses Tragedy.

The 10-year-old son of Miss Bradford (who in private life was Mrs. Shepherd) was a witness of the tragedy. Her husband and another son are . living in Queensland.

The tragedy occurred about 3-A5 p.m., when Mies Bradford, with her passengers, set out for a short flight over the harbour in the Klemm 'plane which she flew in the Adelaide Centenary race, the Golden Eagle. The 'plane rose from the ground, but failed to gain altitude, and the undercarriage tore off the port wing of Peter Hoskins' de Soutter monoplane. The Golden Eagle zoomed up 50ft, banked and turned with the wind, then plunged to the ground. One of the wings of the 'plane struck first, causing one wheel and portion of the under-carriage to collapse. The 'plane was immediately hurled on its nose, and caught fire. Rescue Impossible. Flames leapt 30 feet into the air, and were fanned by a strong wind. The terrific heat made effprts at rescue impossible. There was a headlong rueh by hundreds of spectators who, horror-stricken, and at first unable to move, were suddenly galvanised into action. Attendants, and police intercepted them as they raced across the landing field, and quickly restored order. The fire-fighting truck,, loaded with chemical extinguishers, wae brought out, but because of the great heat its crew could not get close enough to rescue the trapped women. In 15 minutes the machine was reduced to a few pieces of twisted metal, the engine being fused into a solid block. John Lang, employed by Pilot Goya Henry, witnessed the tragedy and was one of the ftret to reach the burning 'plane. "I saw the two 'planes collide, and half of the undercarriage of the Golden Eagle was crumpled," he said. "The 'plane rose sharply, and, banking, appeared to turn with the wind.' "It did not then seem as if Miss Bradford was in difficulties, but suddenly the 'plane swooped toward the ground. "I thought she would have been able to straighten out and keep into the wind, but lack of altitude or damage to the controls apparently made thi» impossible. "The 'plane skidded about 50 feet, then turned on its nose. "It rested in that position for a few seconds before bursting into flames. "With others I rushed across, but it was impossible to approach closer than 10 feet, and we were iorced to stand helplessly by. "I have seen other smashes here, but this eeeme to me to have been the most terrible. "They had no/chance of escape. "The force of the" crash evidently caused the petrol tanks to burst and spill their contents on the hot engine." Many were watching the women flyer, and there were horrified cries when the fuselage of the Golden Eagle smashed against the Puss Moth'e port wing, tearing it off. The Moth swayed perilously and almost capsized. One suggestion was that the strength of the wind contributed to the collision. With Miee Bradford apparently trying desperately to regain control of her machine, the 'plane went to a height of 50ft. By this time the onlookers were spellbound. It seemed that the engine stalled. In a split second, the machine, hurtled - earthwards, giving the unfortunate women, strapped as they were in' their cabins, no chance of jumping for their lives or being hurled clear. Immediately the 'plane struck the ground, the petrol exploded and the machine burst into flames which were fanned to an inferno by the wind. Five men ruehed about 200 yards to the scene. Fire sprinklers were procured, but they* were of no avail againet the fierce blaze. Crowds were kept back by officials. Some onlookers held their hands over their eyes to hide the eight of the three women being burned to death, while men noted for their courageous exploits in the air stood by white-faced, helpless to aaeiet. At the time Central Ambulance was nearby waiting for a specially-chartered 'plane carrying Dr. Balls, of Moesman, who is ill, to Sydney from Brisbane with his wife and daughter. The experienced ambulance men shuddered at the eight which met their eyes when the fire had etopped. Hands and feet, burned off, were among the ashes.

Also among the ashes were the contents of Miss Bradford's vanity bag and a piece of her helmet. A lipstick and eyebrow pluckers were taken care of by the police.

Piret Australian Airwoman Victim. Mies Bradford is the first Australian airwoman to lose her life in an air

crash. On January 24 last, Miss Betty Malcolm, 22-year-old English heroine of many fine flights, was burned to death when her 'plane crashed while she was taking off at Alicante, Spain. It is a coincidence that this tragedy should have occurred exactly twelve months to the day before the Mascot disaster. Miss Malcolm was also on the highway to aviation fame and was training to smash Miss Batten's then record for a flight from England to Australia. Experts believed that this tragedy was due to a handbag slipping from the aviatrix's knees. She was seen to bend and pick something up from the floor of the 'plane when the machine was taking off. It crashed into the wall of a hangar. Other famous women flyers who have crashed, but without• fatal results are: *Mrs. Amy Mollison and Miss Jacqueline Cochran, who took part in the Melbourne air race.