DEATH OF AIRMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20132, 18 December 1928, Page 11

DEATH OF AIRMAN.

PIONEER IN DOMINION;

SQUADRON-LEADER SANDFORD. MELBOURNE, Die. 17. A well-known ail-man, Squadron-Leader F. Sandford, was killed when his car skidded and somersaulted twice on a sharp bend near Glenrowan, 135 miles north of Melbourne. The car was found badly smashed with its wheels in the air. The driver's body was found some distance away.

The death of Squadron-Leader Sandford recalls memories of pioneer flying in Auckland. Australian born, SquadronLeader Sandford came to the Dominion about 1912, and with Mr. W. S. Miller, of Auckland, embarked upon who.t was considered at that lime a doubtful venture. They commenced building aeroplanes at Avondale, and Mr. Miller claims that they built the first aeroplane that successfully flew in tho Dominion. The partnership produced six machines of the biplane type, which wero improved by experimenting as they went along. Indeed, there was always some excitement at Avondale in the years 1912 and 1913. Both Mr. Miller and Squad-don-Leader Sandford flew them, and accidents wero numerous. SquadronLeader Sandford bad a bad crash one day, injuring the back of bis neck, and necessitating . his removal to hospital, where he remained several weeks. " Squadron-Leader Sandford was a very bravfe and very cautious man," commented Mr. Miller. " He always used his discretion, and can be regarded as one of the Dominion's pioneer airmen." At the outbroak of the war SquadronLeader Sandford returned to Australia and joined lip with the Australian Air Force and served in New Guinea, Egypt, and France. He had a distinguished war career and at tho conclusion of activities was transferred to India, where he remained in an advisory capacity to the Aiir Force for about throe years. Before taking up an appointment with the Federal Government be roads a hurried visit to the Dominion and renewed old friendships. " I was in Australia t.hreo months ago, but I did not see my old partner," Mr. Miller stated. " I heard, however, that he had purchased a new car, and presumably this is the one in which, he met his death."