AIR DISASTER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 219, 14 August 1940, Page 8

AIR DISASTER

< BRITAIN SHOCKED. SYMPATHY CONVEYED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 14, 12.45 p.m. CANBERRA, Aug. 14. The plane which crashed at Canberra with the loss of ten lives, including three Ministers, was a Royal Australian Air Force machine. The Ministerial victims vill be given a State funeral in Melbourne on Thursday, when all tho members of Cabinet will attend.

The burials of Sir Brudenell White and Lt.-Colonel F. Thornthwaite will be carried out with military honours, and of the air crew with Air Force honours.

A London message says the Dominions Secretary (Lord Caldecote), referring to the crash,, said: “It .is difficult to find Avords to express our sorrow and distress in the face of such a blow. We mourn 'the death, not only of distinguished statesmen and soldiers, but ot men who were personally Avell-knoAvn here and close friends to many of us.” The message of sympathy telegraphed by Mr Churchill to Mr Menzies concluded: “We know lio\A r sorely you in Australia miss them. The loss is ours, too, for AA-e have learnt by personal acquaintance arid by our knoAvledge of Avhat they achieved hoAv great has been their contribtuion not only to Australia, but to the .whole. Empire.” SEARCH ABANDONED. Received August 14, 11.50 a.m. BRISBANE, Aug. 14. It is now considered certain that the missing Royal Australian Air Force plane dived into the sea near Point Lookout, Avith the loss of all six members of the creAV. The search lias been abandoned. DOMINION’S RESPECT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. Although it is not usual for flags on Government Buildings to be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect in the death of persons overseas other than in the case of Royal deaths, the magnitude of the Ministerial losses in Australia, and the nearness of the tAvo countries at the present time, led to all flags being at half-mast to-day.