CRASH IN FLAMES

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1938, Page 7

CRASH IN FLAMES

FRENCH FLYING-BOAT DISASTER AT MARSEILLES [BY CABLE —PEESS ASSN. —COPYEIGHT.] (Received February 10, 1 p.m.) MARSEILLES, February 9. A flying-boat was leaving the water when it crashed into the mole, which was obscured by fog. The machine was smashed to pieces. There were aboard eighteen persons, including five passengers. The three members of the crew were killed instantly, and six ethers were seriously injured. There were no British people aboard. Three women are among the dead. A fourth jumped into the sea with her hair blazing. ,She was picked up, seriously injured. All the dead were in the front of the machine. The others escaped through the rear door. There was a great flash of flame when a flying-boat hit the mole. It had been unable to gain sufficient altitude to cleai’ the jetty.

The chief pilot, who was killed, had 10,900 flying hours to his credit. Despite the consternation, another seaplane left for Algiers only a few minutes late, carrying four passengers, who witnessed the loss of the flyingboat.

■PLANE STRIKES MINE. (Received February 10, 9 a.m.) MARSEILLES, February 9. A flying boat, bound from Ajaccio (Corsica) to Tunis, struck a mine, while taking off at the Margigane aerodrome. Eight were killed. FLYING-BOAT BASES. CANBERRA, February 9. It is announced that the plans and specifications for the construction of all of the flying-boat bases proposed in Australia will be ready for the calling of tenders by the end of the month. The Dutch East Indies Government is preparing the necessary bases in its territory. ZEPPELIN SERVICE. WASHINGTON, February 9. The trans-Atlantic Zeppelin service will be resumed in June ,as a result of the State Department licensing the export of 2,600,000 cubic feet of helium to Germany. DUTCH ENTERPRISE AMSTERDAM, Februamry 9. ‘‘De Telegraff” states that the Dutch air service to the Netherlands, Indies, and Australia will commence simultaneously with the Empire flying-boat service, on July 1. CLOUSTON’S PLANE. NICOSIA, February 9. Clouston announces that he is not returning to England by steamer. A repair man and a welding outfit aie due on February 11, and there is a sporting chance of getting the plane to England some time next week. N.Z. DEFENCE SYSTEM. PALMERSTON N„ February 9. A clear indication of the scope and magnitude of the-work involved in preparing the land recently purchased by the Government at Ohakea, near Palmerston North, for the purposes of a Royal New Zealand Air Force station was obtained in an interview with Mr E. W. Lee, engineer in charge of the undertaking. This station and the existing bases at Wigram and Hobsonville will comprise the main features of the New Zealand aeiial defence system. Situated as it is approximately halt way between the present bases in the" North and South Islands, Ohakea. will provide a pivot for defence manoeuvres and strengthen the existing position. When 1 operations aie well under way the station will be easily recognisable by travelling motorists, as it is about 500 yards off the main Sanson-Bulls main highway and about the same distance on the Sanson side of the Bulls bridge. Asked why this particular site was chosen, Mr Lee said that there was a very light rainfall. It could be raining all round the district for miles, but that area seemed to escape it. A further good feature was the excellent approaches to the field, which was possibly the best for many miles around, although the Milson aerodrome is also fortunate in this respect. There will be twenty-four miles of drains.