GREAT AIEMAN KILLED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 70, 20 February 1936, Page 2

GREAT AIEMAN KILLED

SQUADRON-LEADER McGREGOR CRASH AT WELLINGTON ■ Wartime flying- ace, joint holder of the light aeroplane record from ‘England to .Australia, and recognised as New Zealand’s greatest airman, Squadron-Leader M. 0. McGregor, M.C., D.E.C., of Palmerston North, service-manager for Union Airways, Ltd., met liis death in a crash at the Itongotai Aerodrome yesterday afternoon. Because he had considered it his duty, on account of the hazardous flying conditions caused by the weather, to take over the controls from liis copilot, Mr A. Y. Jury, at Palmerston North, he was piloting the company’s fast low-wing taxi monoplane, and the accident occurred when he was coming down to land in a blinding rainstorm. His untimely death, after many air adventures, is the heaviest loss which Dominion aviation has yet suffered.

MONOPLANE’S DIVE. PILOT FATALLY INJURED. PASSENGER ESCAPES LIGHTLY. Striking the anemometer mast when gliding down to land the Miles Falcon private charter monoplane crashed to the ground upside down, as a result of which Squadron-Leader McGregor received injuries from which he died in the Wellington Hospital about two hours later. His passenger, Mr C. W. F. Hamilton, a young sheep-farmer, of Irishman Creek station, Fairlie, South Canterbury, escaped with slight injuries, which consisted in the main of abrasions to his right wrist and face, and a cut just above his right eye. Mr Hamilton arrived from the South Island by the inter-island express steamer on Tuesday morning on a hurried business visit to Hamilton, and for this purpose he engaged the Miles Falcon monoplane, which is wellknown to the public by reason of its bright, all-red colour. Piloted by Mr A. V. Jury, be flew the same day from Itongotai to Hamilton, where he staved on Tuesday night.

WARTIME FAME. VETERAN DOMINION PILOT. EXPLOITS IN FRANCE. Squadron-Leader McGregor, M.C., D.F.C. and bar, who had a fine war record, was flight-commander under both Major Bishop, V.C., and Major Mannock, V.C., in the famous 85th Squadron. Since coming to the' Dominion, .he has been a leading pilot, and no one has more knowledge of New Zealand cross-country flying. He has been engaged in commercial aviation in New Zealand since 1928. He received a commission in the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, and had a distinguished war .record. He was, a few years ago, promoted to squadron-leader in command of No. 1 (Army co-operation) Squadron, New Zealand Territorial Air Force. Born at Hunterville 40 years, ago, he was one of the oldest pilots in the Melbourne Centenary Race. When the Great War broke out, Mr McGregor was too young to enlist, but he left his New Zealand school to learn to fly at the Walsh Bros, school at Koliimarama. He completed his training in 1916, when lie became a member of the Royal Flying Corps and went to France with the original 57th Squadron. JOINED “BISHOP’S CIRCUS.” Major Bishop, V.C., D. 5.0., M.C., selected Mr McGregor at the end of 1917, and the New Zealander joined the famous “Bishop’s Circus” which was to establish Allied supremacy in the air by the latter part of 1918. Mr McGregor remained with that band of noted aviators until the end of the war, by which time his exploits over enemy lines had won him the Distinguished Flying Cross (says a writer). When Bishop’s squadron reached France in June, 1918. the pilots comprised six Englishmen, six Canadians, three Americans, two Australians, two New Zealanders, two Scots, one South African and one Irishman. In “War Birds,” that breathless epic of the air which is stated to have been written by one of Bishop’s original American aces before he was shot down behind the German lines late in August, 1918, the name of Mr McGregor is mentioned frequently. “WAR BIRDS” RECORDS. The record carries dates and, on June 2, 1918, there is this: “ . . . McGregor is deputy flight com-

IMPACT "WITH MAST. He left Hamilton with Mr Jury on the southward journey about noon yesterday, and at Palmerston North Squadron-Leader McGregor relieved Mr Jury as pilot for the remaining sta.ge of the journey to Wellington. Palmerston North was left shortly after 2 o’clock, and Squadron-Leader McGregor was about to bring the monoplane to land at 3.10 p.m. when its right wing caught the anemometer mast and it crashed to the ground several yards away. The mast, which stands near the main road on the Seatoun side of the aerodrome buildings, is approximately 25 feet high, and the four cupolas at the top were carried away by the impact. Heavy rain, driven by a strong southerly wind, was falling at the time of the accident. The crash was heard by officials at the aerodrome, who within a few seconds were on the spot and had extricated Squadron-Leader McGregor and Mr Hamilton from underneath the overturned monoplane. It was realised that the Squadron-Leader was seriously injured, and the Free Ambulance was called to take him to the hospital. There he died at 5.10 p.m. from extensive head injuries and a fracture of the base of the skull. Mr Hamilton was attended to at the aerodrome by Dr H. K. Pacey, after which he left for the city by motor-ear to make arrangements for his steamer ticket for his return passage south last evening. Seen after he had received medical attention. Mr Hamilton said that the weather had been fairly thick from Palmerston North to Wellington, rain falling all the way down. The pilot had done one circle round the aerodrome, and was about to land when the machine hit the anemometer mast. Which wing or which part of the monoplane had hit the mast he could not say.

“JUST HIT SOMETHING.” “I did not see it coming,” he said. “There was a crash, and I simply knew we had hit something. The machine fell upside clown, and about a quarter or half a minute later someone lifted the wing and pulled me out.” Apart from the abrasions he received, Mr Hamilton said his right arm was stiff and his shoulder sore. No bones however, were fractured or dislocated. He remarked that he had left his motor-car in Christchurch and had a drive of 150 miles in front of him when he reached there to-day. No doubt ho would then feel the full effect of the stiffness.

mander, and takes command in case anything happens to Nigger . . . McGregor has been out before. He was out on ‘Pups’ for six months when they were service machines. June 5. —“Springs went back after the six Huns that chased him home. Nigger and McGregor wanted to go hunting so they all went together. Bishop joined them over the line and led them down on the same six Huns. They were in two layers of three each. Bish and Mac took the lower ones and Springs and Nigger the top ones. Bish and Mac each got one. June IG.—“We’re worried about Mac. When he was last seen we were going down on nine Huns about 15 miles the other side of the lines. . . . June 17. —“Mac was all right ... he got back across our lines and landed about 20 miles from here all o.k. He came hack on the truck that went after his ’plane, and brought a cow back with him, so we .have our own dairy now. SHAM BATTLE. June 22.—“ . . . we all came down low over the trenches later, and had a sham battle among ourselves. Nigger and I drove furiously oil eacli other just back of No Man’s Land, and Springs and Cal and Mac rolled and looped desperately trying to get on one another’s tails. The boys in the trenches must have enjoyed it; none of the Huns fired at us at all. There were some field sports five miles back of our lines, and we then started for them. They were very appreciative, as they stopped the games to watch and wave to us. Must have been a Canadian division, for they had a baseball diamond. Mac ran his wheels along it. June 27. — “. . . Mac was leading the dawn patrol, and spotted a twoseater over Armentieres, They went after him, and had to chase him a. bit further. Mac got to him first and missed his dive. Springs got underneath and stayed there. The Hun stalled up, and the observer was shooting down at Springs when Mac got back and got him. July 18.—“ . . • Man nock led a show yesterday. ... He kept a top flight up in the sun. . . . They got two of the lower flight of Huns and Mac got one of the top ones that tried to get down to the fight below. July 28. —“ ... No one _in the squadron can hold a glass to. his mouth with one hand after one of’these decoy patrols. . . We have nightmares, and Mae has to get up and quieten us. . .” Mr McGregor, who was very reticent regarding his war experiences, was repuled to have brought down more enemy machines that any other Now Zealander,

Surveying the wreckage of the monoplane, Mr Hamilton remarked that it was fortunate for him that the machine had not taken fire when the crash occurred.

Although the machine is badly smashed, it is not considered to be beyond the reconditioning stage. The engine was torn away from its bearings,' the metal propeller smashed, and the machine generally badly damaged around the nose, which seems to indicate that it dived after striking the mast and then fell over on its back. One wing was ripped off, but the fuselage is in fairly good order, and the elevator and the wheels are intact.

PROBABLE CAUSE. A SUDDEN DROP. From what could be gathered from a reliable source in Wellington last night, it is stated that the officials of the aerodrome went out to take charge of the machine when it landed as there was a strong southerly wind blowing which meant that SquadronLeader McGregor had to land on the shortest run of the aerodrome. The machine approached the ground over the power and telephone lines and cleared these safely, when, it is stated, the machine dropped suddenly, striking a newly-erected pole used for recording the wind velocity. The spectators wore horrified to see one wing break off in mid-air and the ’plane crash. It is stated that the pole that the ’plane struck is normally out of range of being struck provided the ’plane cleared the telegraph lines. j£ — A TRIBUTE. A reader forwards the following quotation as an appropriate tribute to tlie late Squadron-Leader McGregor. _lt is taken from a book dealing with the life of Major McCudden, who was one of the greatest British flying aces during the War and who was killed in an accident similar to that which befell Squadron-Leader McGregor. The quotation is : “The Telamoniam lies low in Troy, but lie gave no foeman cause to boast of liis death, for Time, finding no other man worthy of such a deed, entrusted it to his own slaying hand.”.

COULDN’T KEEP ON FARM. After that sort of life, farming was very quiet, and soon after he reached his New Zealand home Mr McGregor had a machine at Hamilton. He celebrated his return to the air by flying under the town’s main traffic bridge which spans the Wa.ikato River. On flights to Auckland he used to “drop in” on another old war pilot, landing bn a hillside in the home paddock. On south flights he made a practice of stunting over his 'aunt’s home at Waverley until the old lady spoke to him sternly for affecting the laying qualities of her hens. During those early years of New Zealand flying, Mr McGregor landed at nearly every hamlet that had enough ground for him. IN CIVIL AVIATION. When civil flying began to gain ground across the Tasman, Mr McGregor was in the van. He instituted the first air mail service in the Dominion, and made several DunedinAuckland flights with special mails. Between Christchurch and Dunedin in the South Island he ran his services tor nearly a year, keeping to schedule in spite of storms off the Southern Alps. In 1930 and 1931 he conducted an air service between Christchurch and Dunedin, but failed to get sufficient support to continue the venture. In November, 1931, he flew from Invercargill to Auckland collecting mail for the England-Australia experimental flight, and also flew a number of air mail survey flights which covered most of the Dominion.

In 1932 he joined the Manawatu Aero Club as pilot instructor, but at the chib’s annual pageant lie stalled and crashed while engaged in a bal-loon-bursting exhibition. For nearly a year he was in hospital with a broken back, and on his recovery he resumed duty as pilot instructor. Most of the flying championship trophies in New Zealand carry his name among the winners. With Mr H. C. Walker he flew the club’s Miles Hawk in the Macßobertson Centenary Air Race. The pair reached India in 2 days 4 hours 58 minutes, and Australia in 5 days 15 hours' 13 minutes, and finished fifth at Melbourne, cutting 30 per cent, off the existing light aeroplane record despite the necessity for frequent landings. After the race Mr McGregor returned to his instructional duties, and remained with the club until about, a year ago, when he resigned to join Union Airways as service manager, and chief pilot. Last year lie went to England to select machines for that company’s service, and at the time of his death was its service manager. DARING AEROBATIC PILOT. He took a keen interest in the New Zealand Air Force, which he joined at its inauguration in 1923, and became the first Squadron-Leader of No. 2 (Bomber) Squadron when the force was reorganised a few years ago. He was recognised as one of the most daring aerobatic pilots in New Zealand, and his displays at pageants in all parts of New Zealand have been admired by thousands. Like many great pilots, Mr McGregor was a silent man and rarely said much. For him the war ended with the Armistice, and he disliked talking about it. Yet he had a tremendous number of friends in. aviation, and many out of it, and his tall figure and quiet, unassuming manner will be sadly missed from many aerodromes. Squadron-Leader McGregor is survived by his wife and four children, two boys (Keith and Ewen) and two girls (Vida and Ailsa) who are resident at Palmerston North. Much sympathy from many friends will be extended to them in their sad loss.. Immediately news of the accident was received, Mrs McGregor was motored to Wellington, but her husband had passed awav before she reached the city. Mrs McGregor returned to Palmerston North late last night. EPIC FLIGHT. AIR RACE FEAT. TEST OF ENDURANCE. Though flying the smallest machine of the "twenty competitors, Messrs McGregor and Walker were the first of the Australian and New Zealand pilots and the fifth in the whole held, to pass the finishing lino at Melbourne at the end of the Centenary air race from Mildenhall. They broke the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s record for a single-engined light ’plane flight between England and Australia. But for the fact that their flight, an amazing feat of courage and endurance, had been dwarfed by the phenomenal performances of the first four big machines to finish, it would have been acclaimed with an even greater measure of praise the world over. The flight of over 12,000 miles made by Messrs McGregor (chief pilot) and Walker was one of the most gruelling journeys in the race, because hour alter hour, in an open cockpit, without even the protection of an upper wing, they had to battle grimly with the elements and the tropical heat. The newspaper Aeroplane, which commenting on the results of. the Centenary air race, gave prominence to their performance. “Without detracting from Scott and Black’s splendid feat,” it said, “McGregor and Walker’s flight for sheer pluck, perseverance, endurance and skilful piloting is unsurpassed in the historv of British aviation. McGregor and Walker deserve to be recognised as the heroes of the race,” the paper added. “They knocked 30 per cent, off the record for a light ’plane, despite having an open cockpit and the neeessitv for frequent landings.” i The airmen received a tumultous welcome home- when they came back to Palmerston North. .

GALLANT AVIATOR. AERO CLUB TRIBUTES. BLAZED EARLY TRAILS. “What *a tragedy,” commented Mr D. F. Smillie of Milson Aerodrome, Incorporated) when news of the fatal accident ’ was received. “One can hardly realised that ‘Mac’ has gone to the Great Beyond,’’ he added feelingly. “No one outside those who are closely associated with flying activities can realise what the loss is to aviation; not only in this district but throughout the" whole Dominion. His quiet, unassuming nature and gentlemanly manner made him without a doubt tlio most likeable and the most popular person in flying circles. “His whole ambition since he came to this district was to make Palmerston North the centre of commercial aviation in the Dominion, which ambition lie realised only five short weeks ago to-day. “Squadron-Leader McGregor was one who had great faith in what the future held for this district in the matter of air services, and it was his practical knowledge which considerably helped Milson aerodrome to its present important position. He visualised Palmerston North’s future importance when, a few years ago, be carried the first Christmas air mail from Palmerston North to Invercargill. His appointment as pilot-instructor to the Manawatu Aero Club was undoubtedly the means of making that club so popular among the aspirants for air pilots’ tickets and-1 know full well that

he earned The full confidence of all his pupils. His wonderful flight in the Melbourne 'Centenary air race was, if I may add, the most outstanding of any competitor and it was only through pure misfortune that lie and liis copilot did not carry off the first place honours,

“All I can say is that Palmerston North and the Dominion have lost an airman who has by virtue of his ability and characteristic goodness endeared himself to all. Milson aerodrome will ever he a memorial to this gallant aviator. Our sympathy goes out to Mrs McGregor and family.” OUTSTANDING FIGURE. “Squadron-Leader McGregor, the third of the world’s great aviators to pass away within the past 18 months, will always be remembered as the outstanding figure in the pioneering and development of aviation in New Zealand,” said Mr K. G. Chamberlain (secretary of the Manawatu Aero Club and Milson Aerodrome Incorporated), in paying tribute to the late airman. “He blazed the early trails and, catching the public imagination and regard, laid the foundations for the establishment of the air* services which have been so successfuly inaugurated in the Dominion during the past year. Tlie establishment of the Palmerston North-Dunedin service was in particular the fulfilment of a dream which he had visualised for many years and it is not easy to estimate the full extent to which he was responsible for the early efforts and the ultimate carrying into effect of New Zealand’s principal air service. “His indomitable spirit and strength of purpose have been in large measure responsible for the overcoming of the many difficulties that were inevitable in the launching of this new and important undertaking. “Squadron-Leader McGregor had always realised the fitness of Palmerston North as the northern terminal and converging point of the trunk air services and lie leaves behind in this national sendee a fitting memorial to his life’s work. It is tragic that he should not have lived, to see its fuller development and future progress. Those of us who have been associated with him in local developments and common effort, have been able to fully appreciate the great qualities that have made him a world figure in aviation and a highly esteemed citizen of this Dominion.” A STERLING TRIBUTE.

“It is difficult to appreciate the loss to aviation in New Zealand that Squadron-Leader McGregor’s death will mean,” Mr M. H. Oram said today. “Personally, he was liked and respected wherever he went and his very quietness inspired added confidence in everyone with whom he came in contact. There is scarcely a district in New Zealand where ‘Mac’ has not taken a ‘bus’ at one time or another in pursuance of his efforts to popularise flying and make the people of New, Zealand air-minded, and always he has left behind him a feeling of genuine liking and respect for himself personally and admiration for liis qualities as an aviator.

“His record in the war, his blazing the trail of air mail in New Zealand, and his magnificent effort in the Centenary Air Rate when he must still have been feeling the effect of his injury, all mark milestones in the development of aviation in New Zealand.

“In addition to his other sterling qualities ‘Mac’ had a business head and there is not a shadow of a doubt that lie would have made a great success of his work for Union Airways It is the hardest luck that after such an adventurous career this should happen when the future was so lull of promise. A more likeable or sterling chap there could not be; the loss to aviation in New Zealand cannot bo estimated, and certainly cannot be made good.”