AIR FORCE CRASH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 149, 25 May 1934, Page 7

AIR FORCE CRASH

NEW ZEALANDER KILLED,

FALL IN FLAMES,

SPIN AND NOSE DIVE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received May 25, 11.40 a.m. LONDON, May 24. Within sight of the Empire Day air celebration visitors at Andover aerodrome, Flying-Officer George Elton Williams, a son of Mrs G. Williams, of Wellington, New Zealand, and Corporal Robert Brown were killed when their ’plane crashed and burst in flames.

The machine became a mass of ruins and the bodies were unrecognisably burnt. s . The ’plane was engaged with others in routine flying and got into a spin when flying low, and nose-dived into the middle of a wheatfield. The heat drove back the rescuers, and the ambulance and fire engine which were rushed to the soene proved unavailing.

THRILLS FOR ROYALTY,

INSPECTION OF MACHINES.

Received May 25, 12.40 p.m. LONDON, May 24. Rehearsed and unrehearsed thrills filled the Royal programme when the King, as chief of the Royal Air Force, accompanied by the Queen, visited the Bircham Newton aerodrome, thqir first post-war inspection of such an establishment giving great impetus to the popularity of “air day,” which was marked by the opening of all aerodromes to tlie public, of which thousands took advantage. Their Majesties inspected all types of aircraft, the King asking many questions. Their Majesties were interested in robot pilots, also machines similar to that in which Miss Batten flew to Australia. TERM NEARLY UP. A WELL-KNOWN ATHLETE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, 'May 25. George Elton Williams, whose death in an Air Force aviation accident is reported by cable to-day ; was wellknown in athletic circles m Wellington. With George Cooke he won the New Zealand pair-oared championship for the Star Boating Club in 1929, and for some years lie was a member of the Oriental FootbaU Club’s first fifteen Shortly after going to England, Mr Williams won the Air Force heavyweight boxing championship from Beamish, the International footballer who came to New Zealand with the last British team. He also represented the Air Force at football. He has two brothers in New Zealand, one of whom is superintendent of the Porirua Mental Hospital. Flying Officer Williams’s term with the British Air Force was to have expired this month and his return to New Zealand was expected at any time.