"BOMB" EXPLODES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 131, 6 June 1938, Page 11

"BOMB" EXPLODES

SEQUEL TO DISPLAY

NO WARNING GIVEN

An unheralded explosion shortly after noon yesterday marked the firing of the charge'of explosive which wai laid in Lyall Bay to provide the finishing spectacle at the Royal New Zealand Air Force display at the Rongotai Aerodrome on Saturday afternoon. Apparently after'having been hauled up on the beach, the charge blew up Very close to the seaside road. No warning had been given to those on the aerodrome, and the road, itself was open. Aerodrome officials,, fearing that an accident h'ad : occurred with the charge, hurriedly dispatched a stretcher party to the scene.

The charge, which was supposed to give those who attended the display on Saturday an idea of the power of a modern 2501b aerial bomb, - was laid by the 2nd Field Company New Zealand Engineers well out in Lyall Bay. It was connected by'electric cable to a firing point ashore. At the appointed time, however, • it failed to explode, and though the crowd waited very patiently till long after the set time for the conclusion of the. display, nothing happened.

Shortly after noon yesterday a loud report was heard by people as far away as the northern parts of the city. Those in the Vicinity of the aerodrome saw a flash of flame, and a 1 huge column of black smoke streaked with flying sand. The long-awaited demonstration had taken place, but the only ones who were suitably placed to enjoy the spectacle were the small group of engineers responsible for its detonation.

Apparently the, charge had been, hauled in on to the beach, for the explosion took place well above the water's edge. A crater roughly circular in-shape,' about 14 feet across, and four to five feet deep, was blown in the sand. A motor-car and a truck belonging to the engineers were within a few yards of the charge,' which went off quite close to the temporary road which runs down near the beach level.