N.Z. AIRMEN KILLED

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1931, Page 5

N.Z. AIRMEN KILLED

DURING “LOOPING” TESTS WOMEN WITNESS CRASH [BY CABLE—PBESB ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] LONDON, October 30. Two flying officers, F. E. Markby and L. McHardy, both New Zealanders, were killed when their aeroplane crashed at Bulwell Lakes, Nottingham. They belonged to the Nottingham Bomber Squadron, and were stationed at a training school at Grantham. They were testing a new type of bomber. Miss Blatherwick, captain of the Bulwell Lakes Golf Club, says she saiv the machine loop the loop. The pilot was apparently preparing to repeat this when he found something amiss. The plane quivered and then nosedived. TRAGEDY FOLLOWS HONEYMOON. DUNEDIN, November 2. Flight Lieut. Jack E. Markby, was a Dunedin boy, who acquitted himself with distinct credit in the Royal Air Force. His parents reside at Kaikorai.

Deceased was educated at Waikari school, being Dux at the age of 12. He attended the Otago Boys’ High School for three years, and was then apprenticed to engineering. When the apprenticeship expired, he worked his way to England on the Port Curtis in 1927. Soon after, he passed the entrance examination and was admitted to the Air Force. He was head of the list in the flying officers’ examination, and in August last passed the Lieutenancy exam with a star, denoting a pass of 80 per cent in every subject. He was transferred to Hucknall in September, and had only been there three weeks when he met his tragic death. He had just returned from his honeymoon. GIRL’S CAPE VENTURE. “TIRED OF~LUXURY.” LONDON, October 31. “Cheerio! I’ll be back soon!’’ said Peggy Salaman, a pretty, fair haired, nineteen-year debutante, climbing into the Puss Moth “Good Hope,” at Lympne, at eleven p.m. She is attempting a record 6| days’ flight to the Cape. Despite bitterly cold weather, she was only wearing a suede pullover and flannel trousers. Gordon Store, an assistant instructor at the London Air Club, is accompanying her as navigator, and is second pilot. After he jumped in, the plane rose slowly and then disappeared in the darkness.

Miss Salaman, becoming tired of living in luxury, tbld a journalist that she was going to have a great adventure. She has got great faith in the “Good Hope,” which won Lord Wakefield’s prize in the King’s Cup race for the fastest time. The machine is now fitted with a metal propeller enabling it to do 131 miles hourly. They intend flying for fifteen consecutive hours, Store sometimes taking over* the controls. They have two revolvers, an alarm clock, and they carrv chewing gum to stop any leakage in the petrol tanks. They also have sun helmets and shorts.

PROGRESS REPORTS. ROME, November 1. Peggy Salaman arrived at 9.44 and left for Athens at 9.50. ATHENS, November 1. Peggy Salaman arrived, taking 16s hours from Lympne. CAIRO, November 1. Peggy Salaman arrived, and continued the journey later. FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. ' LONDON, October 31. Butler left Lympne, at 5.10 a.m., on his flight to Australia. NAPLES, November 1. Butler arrived and departed ’ for Athens. ATHENS, November 1Butler arrived, after landing at Brindisi to refuel. BERT HINKLER. KINGSTON, October 31. Bert Hinkler will be accorded a public reception on Monday. He departs on Tuesday for Marcaiba. “SCHNEIDER” PILOTSLONDON, November 1. His Majesty gave an audience and invested Stainforth and Boothman with an Air Force Cross. A FRENCH POLL. PARIS, November 1. 6 Probably there is a little sour grapes element in the French assessment of the world’s records. The newspaper “L’Auto” conducted a plebiscite in regard to the most popular 'record holder, which resulted: Nurmi first, Ladoumegue second, then a collection of minor athletes before Stainforth, who came eighth.