Australian Plane Fatalities

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1939, Page 5

Australian Plane Fatalities

SYDNEY, January 30. During an aerial pageant at Orange today, a fatal crash occurred. Mr Ernest J. Buck, chief instructor to the Newcastle Aero Club, demonstrating bombing a fort, had dropped two bombs, and apparently was about to drop a third, which accidentally or prematurely exploded, blowing off one of his arms.

The machine immediately became' out of control. It rose suddenly, and then fell like a rocket outside the aerodrome, Mr Buck being killed instantly.

Two* Fliers Killed.

An aeroplane accident was reported today from Katoomba, two men being killed, one of whom, Mr Roderick Julius, aged 33, is a son of Sir George Julius, and grandson of the late Archbishop Julius. The other is unknown.

Mr Julius and his companion were flying a Taylor Pup machine, in which they recently flew round Australia, and were on their way to the Orange air pageant on Saturday, which was postponed until owing to unfavourable weather.

Their machine crashed in an inhospitable part of the Blue Mountains, and it was not discovered until today, when a local farmer, attracted by the glistening' sides of the machine 'in Megalong Valley, organised a rescue party.

The party reached the wreckage tonight, and found the two occupants dead amid the ruins. Plane Missing. A report has been received from Darwin that a Qantas Airways Moth aeroplane is missing between Normanton and Mitchell River, in charge of Captain D. Pennant. It was conveying Dr. Jean White, of the Australian Inland Mission.