QUEENSLAND CRASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 November 1934, Page 7

QUEENSLAND CRASH

THEORY AS TO CAUSE SWING BECOMES SPIRAL [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Rec. November 17, 8 a.m.) LONGREACH, November 16. Pilot Brain made an examination of the wrecked biplane. He thinks that the first officer, Creastes, who was at the controls tried to establish wireless communication and in doing so, the machine swung, and in the endeavour to correct the swing, it developed a spiral and crashed. The funerals of the three British victims was held to-day.

Broadfoot’s widow, who had awaited the arrival of her husband at Brisbane, till she learned of his fate yesterday, when she was prostrated with grief, returned to Sydney to-day in the New England Airways mail plane. PRENDERGAST’S CAREER (Rec. November 17, 8 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, November 16. Flight Lieut. Prendergast killed in the Longreaeh crash, had distinguished naVal service during the war. He joined the Air Force in 1923 and was drafted to India. In the Afghanistan disturbances following the dethronement of King Amanullah, he was the first airman to rescue the civilians forced to evacuate Kabul. He made a number of flights to the Afghan capital and carried away refugees. He was complimented by the Viceroy and the Ministry. TOURISTS AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. November 16. The four New Zealand fliers who took part in the Centenary Air Race, Squadron-Leader J. D. Hewett and Flying-Officer C. E. Kay, of Auckland, and Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor and Mr H. C. Walker, of Manawatu, arrived at Mangere Aerodrome to-day. Deputy-Mayor Entrican and others welcomed the airmen, and congratulated them on their performances.

MACHINE REPAIRED. ’ PALMERSTON N„ November 16. Repairs to the Hewett-Kay machine were completed this afternoon at 5.30, but owing to the possibility of another night landing at Auckland the departure was postponed till to-morrow at 10 o’clock. The machine was given a ground fest only to-day, and will have an air test to-morrow at the time of leaving. The sternpost damaged at Cloncurry and temporarily repaired then, has been replaced, the dented cowling fixed, and the damaged propellor shortened at both ends. KINGSFORD SMITH. LOS ANGELES, November 15. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew to San Francisco to-day in a regular commercial aeroplane. He said he would discuss with persons whom he declined to identify “somewhat nebulous plans for a passible transcontinental and trans-Atlantic flight.” The Lady Southern Cross is in the Lockheed factory here tor overhauling. Smith added that he expects to make an important announcement within a few days.

ULM’S NEXT FLIGHT. SYDNEY, November 16. A report has been received here that Charles Ulm leaves Vancouver for Australia next Thursday in a new plane named Stella Australis. Others in the crew will be G. Littlejohn, J. Skilling. ’ JAPS. AND ZEPPELINS. TOKIO, November 16. A company with a capital of twenty million yen has been formed to inaugurate Zeppelin routes; firstly between Tokio and Hsinking, and secondly routes to Singapore, the South Seas, Hawaii, and the United States. Commander Eckener, of Germany, has a representative now en route here to negotiate the sale of the first Zeppelin.