Military Funeral For Squadron-leader McGregor

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 43, 21 February 1936, Page 8

Military Funeral For Squadron-leader McGregor

The late Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor, who died ,of injuries when he crashed at Rongotai airport on Wednesday, will be accorded a military funeral in Palmerston North this afternoon. v The body is due to arrive in the city by motor hearse from Wellington at 2.30 -p.m.y but in the vicinity of the railway station it will be transferred to a gun carriage. The military cortege will then proceed through the Square, headed by the Garrison Band, to the Opera Houso (owing to St. Andrew's Church being under repair), where a service is timed to commence at 3 p.m. After the service, at which Rev. J. Hubbard will officiate, the casket will bo conveyed by motor hearse to the Kelvin Grove cemetery, where the deceased will be laid to rest. The pall-bearers will consist of officers of tho Air Force. A firing party has been arranged and the last sad rites will conclude with the sounding of the “Last Post.” When she received news of tho tragedy Mrs McGregor was motored to Wellington, but arrived too late. Since her return to Palmerston North she has been inundated with messages of sympathy from all parts of the Dominion. A special messamo came from the Prime Minister, Hon. M. J. Savage. Inquest Opened SURVIVOR’S STORY VISIBILITY BAD Per Fres3 Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. To take the evidence of tho survivor before his return koine to-night, the inquest upou Squadron-Leader McGregor was begun , by the Coroner (Mr E. Gilbertson, J.P.), this afternoon. Sub-Inspector C. E. Roach conducted tho inquest, Mr C. Ct. White represented Union Airways, Mr J. O’Shea the Wellington City Council, and Mr W. N. Matthews appeared for tho relatives of the deceased. Wing-Com-mander T. M. Wilkes was also present. Dr. G. B. Cowie, of the Wellington Hospital, said that deceased had died without recovering consciousness from a fracture of the base of the skull and laceration of the brain. Squadron-Leader G. L. Stedman said that deceased was one of the most experienced pilots in New Zealand, with a wonderful war record. Tho machine would be in good order and deacesd would be familiar with it. Witness gave evidence of identification. “Landing a Bit Short” “Ho was. landing a bit short and obviously struck the anemometer mast with his right wing,” said witness to tho Coroner. Tho wind was gusty and blowing at from 15 to 35 miles an hour from the south. The Coroner; Ho was a great “stunter,” I know, but did ho take chances'? Witness: In flying such as he was doing yesterday, no chances whatever. The passenger, Charles William Fcilden Hamilton, described his flight to Hamilton in the Miles Falcon on Tuesday, piloted by Mr A. V. Jury. “1 spent tho night at Hamilton,” lie. said, “and at about 11.45 a.m. the following morning left ■ Hamilton in the samo aeroplane with the same pilot to return' to the South Island. The aeroplane arrived at Palmerston North at about 1.30 p.m. At Palmerston North Squadron-Leader McGregor took over the aeroplane, and we left at 2.5 p.m. to continue the trip to Wellington. A steady rain was failing, and visibility was not good on leaving Palmerston North. Visibility was about 1000 yards. Flying conditions were bad, and we had a bumpy trip travelling down tho western coast to Wellington. We travelled at an altitude of about 500 to GOO feet. "We sighted Wellington at about 3.5 p.m. The aeroplane circled the aerodrome at Rongotai once at an altitude of about 200 feet. When about to land from the northern side a wing of the aeroplane struck something, which I later ascertained to be the wind indicator. Owing to rain on the windscreen visibility was not good. I did not see this indicator before the accident. I think Squadron-Leader McGregor did not see this indicator, and am positive the cause of the accident was the aeroplane striking this apparatus. 1 was the only passenger in the aeroplane, and was seated behind Squadron-Leader McGregor at tho time of the crash.” 1-Ie was not talking to the pilot, said witness in reply to the Coroner. They could see the whole of the aerodrome quite deafly. Tho pilot was chiefly looking out the only open window on the left-hand side, and glancing also to the right. Sub-Inspector Roach said that the machine would have to be examined, and that expert evidence would be called. The inquest was adjourned sine die. “ Kindliest of Men ” DARING “ACE” IN FRANCE WELLINGTON, Last Night. No nu : striking Instance of the soldier who has faced and escaped incredible perils to die by mischance in civil life could be found than the crashing of Squadron-Leader Malcolm Charles McGregor at Rongotai yesterday afternoon, and that it was indirectly due to a kindly thought with no afterthought of the risk of himself, was emblematic of the man (says the Evening Post). Tall and slim, he had

Arrangements For To-day’s Proceedings More Trifootes .to Dead Airman

a magnetic personality that drew everybody, and all those who have been connet' :d with him in any enterprise know that he was meticulously careful ox their welfare and safety , as far as it could be assured. Nobody, say those who were with him in those breathtaking days in France, could have studied his pilots more, and when there was danger ho was most generous in accepting the risks himself. '‘Yesterday was an illustration,” said ono who knew him intimately. ‘‘His nature was to bo kind to everybody, and ho liked doing good turns. He would not allow tiro pilot who had flown the machine down from Hamilton to continue on to Wellington, as he knew that tho weather was bad, and that Jury had had no blind-flying instruction, while he himself had, and so he took the machine on himself. Although he was known as ‘Silent Mac’ his knowledge of all commercial services was such as to fully warrant his recognition most definitely as an authority. ’ 1 One who knew him well for years, and who succeeded in extracting from him some actual details of nls war service, though even then it had to be ‘‘dragged out of him,” says that he is officially credited with 27 German machines, and unofficially with 34, the official numbers being those the destruction of which had been confirmed. In one battle he had in the air, the bullet holes from the German's ma-chine-gun started at tho tail of the machine and finished at the head of it, missing only a small part of tic cockpit. The nearest bullet was four inches behind him and the stream recommenced eight inches in front of him. The only explanation why ho was not hit by such fine shooting was that there was a change between the belts. His propeller was shot away, but he brought the machine to the ground in his own lines.

Ho was occasionally mixed up with the ‘‘school” of craft commanded by the famous German pilot Richtofen, and fought often alongside ‘‘Mad Mick Mannock, ” on whoso death ho was promoted to act as squadron-leader of the 85th squadron, and while he was in that position a great many German machines were accounted for. Many times he was fighting over the German lines, and returned with his machine absolutely riddled with bullets. Ilis work when fighting revealed many marvellous stunts. On ono occasion he Accounted for a German balloon which was giving a great deal of trouble by signalling to the enemy artillery. Many attempts were made to destroy it, but Squadron-Leader McGregor finally succeeded in doing so by a wonderful piece of flying. Splendid Airman and Fine Comrade TRIBUTES .FROM FELLOW AVIATORS Per Press Association. HASTINGS, Last Night. Recognition of the splendid service to aviation rendered by SquadronLeader McGregor was paid to-day by Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt and Flight-Lieut. M. W. Buckley, both of whom are visiting Hastings. “He confirmed the universally high opinion of his previous great achievements by his very fino performance in the Melbourne Centenary air race, and his death will be a great loss to Union Airways and to commercial aviation generally,” said Mr Isitt. “It was tho luck of tho game that the accident from which he might easily have escaped with only slight injuries should have caused his death.” Flight-Lieut. Buckley said he was a splendid airman and a fine comrade, and his death will be deeply mourned by everybody connected with aviation in this country as well as by many who came to know him abroad as a war pilot and as a contestant in the centenary air race. A Further Tribute ‘‘lt is difficult to appreciate the los3 to aviation in New Zealand that Squadron-Leader McGregor’s death will mean,” Mr M. 11. Oram, a former president of the Manawatu Aero Club, said. ‘‘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 his 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 Race when he must still have been feeling the effect of his previous injury, all mark milestones iu 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 he 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 tho futuro was so full of promise. A more likeable or sterling gentleman there could not be; the loss to aviation in New Zealand cannot bo estimated, and certainly cannot be made 2ood. ”

“ Lest We Forget ” j A largo concourse stood in silence for a period at tho Manawatu speedway meeting last evening as a tribute to the memory of the late SquadronLeader McGregor. Speaking through tho amplifier, Mr. H. E. Edmunds (president of the Manawatu Aero Club) stated that* the late airman had brought the city to the forefront of aviation circles in New Zeals d and his passing had como as a great shock to all. ‘‘ln memory of a great aviator I respectfully ask you to stand in silence as a mark of the esteem in which you all hold him,” ho said. Wrecked Falcon Brought to Palmerston North Shortly before 8 a.m. yesterday, tho wrecked Miles-Falcon aeroplane was loaded on a lorry and brought to Palmerston North, where Union Airways have a hangar and workshop facilities Mr Ewen McGregor, brother of the late Squadron-Leader McGregor, arrived at Milson. aerodrome at noon yesterday from Hamilton by ’plane.