Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1937. AVIATION NATALITIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 4 June 1937, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1937. AVIATION NATALITIES.

In commemoration of Empire Day demonstrations were held in various parts of England by the Royal Air Force, and an air race took place from Loudon to the Isle of Man. Unfortunately the displays and thq race itself .were marred by tragedies which resulted in “one of the bla'ckest days in British aviation.” The fatalities were added to when a large aeroplane engaged in passenger flights at Doncaster crashed, and all told no less than 12 people lost their lives in twenty-four hours. Public opinion in Britain has been shocked, particularly by the fatalities in the Air Force, several of which were the result of “stunt” flying, and questions are being asked in Parliament on the matter. The Labour member for West Islington declares that partly for the sake of Air Ministry propaganda “young flying men are now being ordered to risk their lives in unnecessary stunts.” Set against this view is the fact that 1500 machines of the Air Force went aloft with 3000 men, and as the Daily Mail points out such casualties, while lamentable, are almost bound to overtake an expanding air force. When fatalities occur the public are apt to forget the credit side of the ledger in the vast amount of fly-, ing that is done without accident. Since the year commenced there have been several severe crashes in many countries with regrettable loss of life. In California alone by February 9 there had been three since Christmas, with a death-roll of 28, and last year in crashes involving more than one victim 80 lost their lives in the United States. But accidents are not always fatal, and in 02 in the scheduled air service reported to the United States Department of Commerce in 1935, eight resulted in fatal injuries, three in serious injuries, and 51 in minor injuries or none. But sightseeing and privately owned aeroplanes and army machines have also been involved in tragedies in America, and the same is true in other countries. Yet people think no more of entering an aeroplane than they do of taking their ’dace in a motor-car. A few weeks ago the world was bonified to learn of tlie liimlenburg disaster at Lakehurst, New Jersey. It added another impressive tragedy to fhe many in which dirigibles have been involved. But the. Graf Zeppelin, it is not doubted, will again resume its flights and Dr. Eckener will produce another airship like the Hindenburg. Not long ago Russia lost her giant aeroplane, the Maxim Gorky, when it collided with a small stunting aeroplane, and 49 people were hurled to their death. These accidents naturally shock the public, but they may well be reminded that all over the

world daily thousands of miles are being traversed through the air and passengers and freight landed at their destinations in safety. The same is true of the Royal Air Force, so far as its own duties whether at Home or abroad, or in policing the dangerous North-Western Frontier, are concerned. The air service is being augmented as a vital part of Britain’s defence scheme, and it holds an irresistible appeal to young men of the Empire. Part of their training is in aerobatics, .•Mid regrettable though the accidents were last week, not one pilot would aver that he took more than the ordinary risk, or did anything which is not an integral part of the training.