Melrose Killed

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 157, 6 July 1936, Page 7

Melrose Killed

In Double Plane Tragedy

CRASHED FORM 3000 FEET

United Pres 3 Association— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Monday, 1 a.m. SYDNEY, July 5.

O’. J. Melrose, the young South Australian aviator, and Lieut.-Col. A. G. Campbell, tho well-known mining engineer, were killed this morning at Melton, 30 miles from MeiDournc, while on a flight to Adelaide.

Melrose, who recently undertook a goodwill flight on behalf of the Soutu Australian Centenary celebrations, was flying Col. Campbell to Adelaide to begin a flight to Central Australia. While over Melton, flying at 3000 feet, the ’plane apparently went into a power spin and appeared to break into pieces which scattered over an area of two square miles. Both men were killed instantly.

Colonel Campbell was making the trip on behalf of a syndicate of MelDourne and Adelaide uusinessmen to inspect the gold mining areas at Fine Creek, Central Australia.

Melrose, who was flying his lleston-Plioenix high-wing cabin monoplane, which he recently flew from England* was t'nc best-Known young aviator in Australia. His career was short but brilliant. He was 21 years of ago and learned to fly 22 months ago in a 'plane given dim by his mother. This machine he flew round Australia in live days 11 hours, breaking the existing record by one day 21 hours. He flew to England in eight days nine hours, creating a record when he went to enter the Centenary air race. The youngest competitor in the air race he gained third place in the handicap section. On his last flight from England he interrupted his journey at Singapore to search for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.

‘‘l regret exceedingly that yet another of Australia’s great airmen has gone to his death,” said the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) to-night. ‘‘Melrose won considerable fame in his brief career and not the least valuable of his achievements was his skilful search for Kingsford Smith last year. The sympathy of all Australia will go to his devoted mother.”