PILOT IN AIR CRASH

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24866, 4 May 1946, Page 7

PILOT IN AIR CRASH

DIABETIC CONDITION ALLEGED (Rec. 10 p.m.) b MELBOURNE, May ». Notification that evidence would be called to prove that Captain T. W. Spence, pilot of the Dakota airliner which crashed near Hobart on March 10 with the loss of 25 lives, was a diabetic of long standing, was given by Mr H. A. Winneke, at the resumed Court of inquiry to-day. Mr Winneke, who has been instructed by the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor to assist the court, said that evidence would reveal that Spence had not revealed his condition when applying for a civil aviation licence. “On completion of his Royal Australian Air Force training course in Canada," said Mr Winneke, "Spence was given a final medical examination and found to be suffering from diabetes. He was put on insulin treatment and classified as permanently unfit. and repatriated- to Australia. Towards the end of 1841 he was discharged as permanently medically unfit, and later applied for a civilian licence." Mr Winneke said that although several examinations failed to show any traces of sugar, it had been ascertained that Spence was admitted to H 5- Bri ,’ bane Hospital on September 9. 1843. in a diabetic coma. At six monthly intervals after that he was examined, but no trace of sugar was found A special medical witness would be called. The inquiry is proceeding.