AIR FORCE DEATHS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 1 June 1937, Page 7

AIR FORCE DEATHS.

PUBLIC MUCH SHOCKED. LONDON, May 31. Three more deaths have occurred as a result of Empire Air Day crashes. The victims were Mrs Abbey and two passengers in a ’plane which crashed at Doncaster. An Irish solicitor, Mr Reginald Good, was injured in a crash at W’icklow, and also succumbed. A member of the House of Commons, Mr r. Montague (Labour —West Islington), a former Under-Secretary of ouie lor Air, will ask in the House a question whether displays entailing risk can be justified. /The Daily Herald, in supporting Mr Montague, declares: “These tragedies have shocked the public. It is clear that partly for popular amusement and partly for the sake of Air Ministry propaganda, young flying men are ordered to risk their lives in unnecessary stunts.” The News-Clironicle deprecates alarmist statements. It contends that uciuuaiics are a valuable part of military training. The Dailv Mail points out that the Air Force sent un 1500 machines and 3000 men at displays, among which tnere were tive deaths. It says: Such casualties, although lamentable are almost bound to overtake an expanding air force.”

MRS PUTNAM’S FLIGHT. TAKE OFF ON TUESDAY. MIAMI, May. 31. Mrs Amelia Earhart Putnam carried out a test flight which revealed the necessitv for adjustments to her machine’s radio and gyro pilot. She announced that she would take off on Tuesday at the earliest on her world flight.

CAPE TO LONDON. FLIGHT ENDS ABRUPTLY! CAPE TOWN, May 31. Flying Officer D. Llewellyn, who starred again for London yesterday in his attempt on the record, was reported to-day from Bulawayo to have made a forced landing at Serowe. .His machine struck an ant heap and w-as badly -damaged. Mr Llewellyn was jammed in the seat, but was extricated by natives.