TWO AIRMEN KILLED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 July 1925, Page 5

TWO AIRMEN KILLED.

COLLISION IN THE AIR. BURIED IN Al UD WITH A FALLEN ’PLANE. Two airmen were killed recently when their aeroplane came into collision with another and fell, burying itself and its occupants in the mud at the mouth of the River Eden, near St. Andrews. Lieutenant Harry Lestourgeon Roseveare, R.N., aged 23, who was undergoing a course of instruction at the Leuchars air station, and Corporal Warwick, aged 21, were in the machine, a new Fairey 3D bomber, which, with another aeroplane, was undergoing a trial flight. Flying conditions were moderately good, but while the two machines were passing over the river mouth, at a height of GOO feet they came into collision.

Eye-witnesses state that Lieutenant Roseveare’s aeroplane appeared to rise immediate.v beneath the other. The impact was slight, but the lower machine seemed to go out of control. Itturned turtle, and then plunged spinning downward and nose-dived into the mud.' The aeroplane took fire on crashing, but the flames soon subsided. The accident was witnessed through his field glasses by an officer belonging to the ground staff. He at once dashed to an ambulance and hurried to the spot. A staff of men were also rushed to the scene in tenders. The aeroplane, however, hud fallen a considerable distance from the shore, and it was some little time before help could arrive. The machine had partially buried itself iti the inud, the engine being embedded three or four feet deep, and when the two men were extricated they were both found to be dead. The pilot was badly cut about the head, body, and legs, while his passenger was badlv cut about the head, but seemed otherwise to be untouched.

The rescue squad had to work at high speed to recover the machine before the tide came up. The wings were taken off. and the battered engine was salved before the evening tide reached it.. '

Although Lieutenant Rosevearc’s machine was completely wrecked, the other bomber suffered little damage, and its pilot. Lieutenant E. A. A. Gibbon. R.N.. was able to make a safe landing.