FIRE ON AIR LINER

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 June 1938, Page 7

FIRE ON AIR LINER

OFFICER SAVES PASSENGERS SHEPHERDED TO EXIT [BY CABLE: —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] HONG KONG, June 3An Imperial Airways air-liner, Dorado, caught fire this morning while preparing to take off for Bangkok The aeroplane was considerably damaged. The coolness of the Imperial Airwmys manager, Mr E. Watts, saved an American passenger and two Chinese employees from death. He shepherded them through the emergency exit to the wing-tip, where all jumped to the ground. One Chinese broke a legNEW GUINEA RESEARCH. SAN DIEGO (California), June 3. Mr Richard Archbold, formerly of the American Museum of Natural History, accompanied by five companions, including two aviation experts who assisted Sir Hubert Wilkins in his search for the lost Russian airmen, hopped off for Honolulu en route for Dutch New Guinea. Mr Archbold expects to remain in New Guinea for two years collecting mamalogical specimens..

FRENCH EXPERTS’ MISSIONS. PARIS, June 3The Government has decided to snd two air missions to the United States lor tlie purchase of aeroplanes. The first, mission consists of experts, headed by the Air Ministry’s chief engineer, M. Cambois. The second will leave at the end of June. It is expected that in future there will be frequent visits to study American methods of construction. RUGBY, June 2. General Vuillemin, Chief of the French Air Staff, and two other members of the French air mission, who are visiting England, were received by the King at Buckingham Palace. PLANES FOR NEW ZEALAND. WELLINGTON, June 3. No difficulty is anticipated by the authorities in obtaining delivery when required of the 30 Vickers Wellington aircraft ordered by the Government for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Minister for Defence (Hon F. Jones) said this evening. He expected that the work at Ohakea would be completed early next year. The levelling of the ground and the construction of the hangars had to be carried out, as well as the training of personnel. By the time Ohakea was ready there should be no difficulty in obtaining the first batch of aircraft ordered from England.