AUCKLAND PLANE ABLAZE

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1945, Page 4

AUCKLAND PLANE ABLAZE

YOUTH ARRESTED. AUCKLAND, May 14. Remarkable circumstances • surround the total destruction by fire of a Lodestar aeroplane at Mangere, last evening. Theloss of the plane was this morning the subject of the following statement issued to the Press by Union Airways: “At approximately 9.30 last evening the junior engineer of Union Airways, without authority broke into the hangar at Mangere through the garage and over the top of the oil store. He opened the hangar doors

from the inside and took the Lodestar out, thereafter careering' round the aerodrome with lights switching on and off, eventually hitting a dummy plane in the aerodrome. The aircraft burst into flames and was totally destroyed. The hangar was securely locked by the station engineer before he left the aerodrome about 5 p.m. With the aircraft available, Union Airways will carry out every possible service to the original timetable with only those alterations necessary to the readjustment of which due notice will be given.” In the Police Court, this morning, Frederick Demehy, 19, described as assistant air engineer, was charged with stealing a Lockheed Lodestar monoplane, valued at about £40,000, the property of Union Airways. It was stated that accused was arrested at

11.30 last night by Detectives Cromwell and Fraser. The police asked for a remand till May 21. After the matter 'of bail had been discussed in chambers, the Magistrate (Mr. Luxford) refused bail.