AIR INCIDENTS

Evening Star, Issue 22892, 25 February 1938, Page 2

AIR INCIDENTS

DEAD GOAT CARRIED FOR ELEVEN HOURS Apart from mechanical failures, the flight from England of the five flying boats of No. 204 Squadron, R.A.P., jwhich arrived in Australia recently, was notable for several strange incidents, including the carrying of a dead goat under the hull of one flying boat from Calcutta to Akyab. It was learned that at three ports of call in the Persian Gulf it was found thit stores and supplies for the boats had not arrived, and small impoverished Arab villages were scoured for food for the 40 hungry men. All the available poultry in one village was purchased, and the scraggy Arab fowls were so tbugh that they had to be skinned before they could be eaten. The strangest, episode was that of the dead goat. While at Calcutta the dead goat floated down the Hoogli River, and became entangled in the moorings of one plane. The machine took off for Akyab, and uknown to the crew the goat was carried under the hull. Strange bumps and knocks during the flight, which lasted 11 hours, worried ,the crew, and close investigation could not locate the trouble. It was not until they arrived at their destination that they found the dead goat still attached to the hull. When a few days later the same machine was lagging behind, Squadronleader Lloyd signalled asking the reason, adding; “ Presume you are carrying a dead bullock this time.” MYSTERIOUS WHISTLING. Once a strange whistling noise was noticed in one flying boat, and the engineers made a complete investigation. After some hours they admitted themselves beaten, and ultimately called in Squadron-leader Feather, the second in command of the squadron. He, too, could not find the cause. The machine continued the flight, and a few hours later one of the crew located the source of the strange noise. He had left his mouth organ near an open porthole, and the wind blowing through played the strange tune which had caused so much anxiety. Dutch flying restrictions were enforced while the squadron flew over the Dutch East Indies. Twenty-five miles before reaching Sourahaya the squadronhad to fly in line at 300 ft. No aerial photographs are permitted in this area.