EXTRA EDITION. AIR TRAGEDY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 April 1922, Page 7

EXTRA EDITION. AIR TRAGEDY.

FURTHER PARTICULARS

*-SY CABLE—PEFSS ASSOCIATION—COP HEIGHT -"Received April 15, 11.20 a.m LONDON, April" 14. ■Sir Ross Smith was accompanied by Cockerell 011 the trial trip but vihe death flight was the first time he .handled controls of Vickers' amphibian, which recently won a £10,000 Government prize. Sir Ross' last word was ."Cheerio !'> to Cockerel, as he put the v.wheels in motion. Lieut. Bennett .was .moaning, but died *?as he was taken from the wreckage. FThe fabric was torn off the machine, which was so wrenched that the proipellers, whica split in two, lay facing : inwards. When the doctor motored up, Keith Smith, who had borne up •bravely, said: "Please look to my :brother and see if there's any chance." The doctor immediately saw that Sir Ross'- condition was hopeless and returned to Sir Keith, who had walked 3i little way apart. Sir Keith said: *1 see by your face that all is over. 5' i rThe doctor nodded. i Cockerell says he was unable to ex- ! i>la}n .*he jaocident. Questioned, he ! «aid the machine was new. Sir>> Ross ' . also had had some months of compara- ! ' "tree inactivity from flying. The situa- ! tion was -something like a new mount J in the first run of the hunting season. ! Other experts are doubtful whether it iwas a case of engine failure or whether ■' -the pilot did not allow sufficient heitrht -■for flattening; after the spin The manager of Brookiand's motor -works says, that if Sir Ross Smith had •an extra hundred feet lie could have' righted the aeroplane. Another observer says the 'engine stopped, but this is not confirmed Ihe bodies will be embalmed and "taken to Australia for a State funeral _ • SYDNEY, April 15." Mr. Hughes has despatched a rae*■;age expressing the sympathy of the tJomemnwealth with the parents of Sir "Ross Smith, and ntime'rous. other tributes are being received.