TWO ’PLANES CRASH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 June 1939, Page 7

TWO ’PLANES CRASH.

AA'OAIEN PILOTS INJURED. AIELBOUENE, June 11. Two AJotli ’planes belonging to the Vietorian Aero Club, each piloted by a woman, collided and hurst into Haines while taxi-ing over the Essondon aerodrome to-day. Each had as a passenger an orphan boy from the St. Vincent do Paul Orphanage. The pilots and boys were injured one of tho pilots critically. Mrs Gertrude McKenzie, a former Mayoress of South Alelhourne, who is a commercial pilot of many hours’ experience, arranged with Aliss Florence AA'urtz, another Aero Club member, to take 30 boys from the orphanage on a series of flights over the city. The crash occurred as the ’planes were taking oil. on their first (lights. Airs McKenzie’s machine, travelling at 60 miles an hour, was about to lilt when it struck Aliss AVurtz’s machine, which was just moving. Tho ’planes hurst instantly into flames and Aliss W'urtz was trapped in the cockpit. She was dragged out with difficulty, suffering terrible burns. Her condition is critical. Airs AlcKenzie escaped when the front of her machine split ojien. The two hoys climbed out. unaided. They suffered shock, cuts and minqt burns. Five of the aerodrome staff suticrcil burns while assisting the rescue of Aliss AYurtz.