AEROPLANE THEFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 10

AEROPLANE THEFT

MACHINE AT MANGERE CRASH EARLY IN FLIGHT PLUNGE INTO A SWAMP ARREST OF TWO MEN A daring theft of an aeroplane and an unsuccessful attempt to make a flight in the machine were carried out at the Mangero aerodrome jn the darkness of the early hours of Saturday morning. A Gipsy Moth machine was removed from the hangars and it crashed a few hundred yards from tho centre of tho flying field, being found with its noso buried in tho mud in tho tidal Hats of the Manukau Harbour. There was no traco of tho thioyes.

Investigations were niado by tho police throughout the day and two men were arrested at Papatootoo on Saturday night on suspicion of being concerned in the theft. They will be charged in the Police Court this morning. A note found in tho office at tlys hangar indicated that two men were implicated, and although they announced in this communication that they intended to fly to Australia, little credence is given to this. Tho two men apparently escaped unhurt when the machine crashed, as footprints were plainly visible in tho mud. Boy Hears Crash Tho first intimation that anything unusual was happening was given by Peter Allan, tho 11-year-old son of Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan, the club's instructor, whoso homo is at tho edge of the flying field. Tho boy awoko his parents shortly after four o'clock and said he had heard an aeroplane start, take off, and almost immediately crash. Thinking that tho boy had been dreaming of aeroplanes, his father sent him back to bed. However, at 7.30 tho boy saw the tail of the machine obtruding from tho mangroves on tho mud flats less than a quarter of a mile from the house.

Flight-Lieutenant Allan immediately investigated, and on going to the hangar found a note roughly scribbledon a sheet torn from a small notebook. This read as follows:—"We are borrowing one of your planes. Flying to Australia immediately. P.S.: We are carrying enough petrol to get there." Mr. Allan immediately motored to Onohunga, where he notified the police of the theft, returning to the aerodrome with Sergeant S. Brown and MountedConstable It. Wilks. The City pplice station was also informed and Defective L. Packman and Constable Worts left for Mangere. Lack of Knowledge Revealed

Members of the ground staff at the aerodrome recalled that on the previous morning two young men had spent some time about the hangars, taking a keen interest in the aeroplanes and even handling the controls to observe how they operated. They were poorly dressed and were given some food at the clubhouse when they said they were hungry. The Gipsy Moth ZKAAT, the machine which was afterwards stolen, was flown during the morning, demonstrating that she was in good condition. When the investigation was made on Saturday morning it was clear that two other machines had been moved to get the ZKAAT out of the hangar. The lock on the benzine bowser outside the hangar had been smashed and 19 gallons drawn off, the full capacity of the machine's tanks. The hangar doors had been closed, but not locked. It is apparent that the machine was pushed out to the centre of the flying field and started there without the engine being first warmed up. This alone, would have led to trouble, and indicated that the men did not have flying experience. It was found that the throttle was widen open and both switches full on. It has been suggested that the novice pilot had an. idea that if he pulled the joystick right back the machine would climb, whereas he would merely be trying to climb at an impossible angle. They either got tho aeroplane into a fully stalled condition or choked tho engine with tho throttle. Limited Flying Range

It is clear that the machine could not hnvo attained any great height as the damage done by the fall was comparatively light. The tip of one blade of the propeller was broken, the tip of one wing was slightly crushed and tho metal casing of the engine was damaged, while the undercarriage was smashed. It is expected that the aeroplane will be ready for the air again by Wednesday. The assumption that the thieves had no intention of attempting a ilight to Australia is supported by the limited flying range of the aeroplane. The 19 gallons of petrol in tho tank would liavo been sufficient for about 3i- hours' flying, during which a machine of that type would fly about 210 miles in still air. It was estimated that in tho moderate north-east breeze blowing on Saturday .morning the •machine could havo reached Wanganui with the petrol carried.

A quantity of equipment and gear was stolen from the hangars, including two pairs of goggles, a flying helmet, a leather coat and a short leather jacket, all belonging to Mr. R. A. Kirkup. and a holmet bolonging to Mr. F. A.. North, the club's engineer. A tin with a small quantity of red paint and a brush and a repeating rifle wore also taken, Tliero was not enough paint to alter the colour of the green and white body of tho aeroplane, and it is assumed that it would have been used to paint out the distinguishing letters on tho wings. The paint was found in the abandoned machine and there was also a brown; felt hat, one ppir of goggles and a belt. Little difficulty was experienced in retrieving the aeroplane from the mangroves. Tho wings were detached and the stripped fusolane was hauled up tho bank to the held by a powerful motorcar. When tho police had removed tho joystick and other articles likely to carry finger-prints the, machine was hosed down and soon looked little worse for tho experience. Arrest of Suspects

The arrest of the two suspects ,was made by Constable G. «J. Malciney, of Papatoetoc. One of the men was wearing a leather coat, a pullover, and iiying headgear and goggles. Shortly after (5 p.m. Constable Maloney, accompanied by Mr. F. Jones, traffic inspector to the Manukau County Council, and Mr. M. .Pattison, a visitor to the district, proceeded by. motor-car to Puhunui Bond, Tins road gives direct access to the foreshore opposite the aerodrome and leads jnland to Papatoetoe township, the railway line and the main south road. When about a mile from the beach the car headlights picked un two men walking toward Papatoetoe and they wore accosted and taken into custody. Live ammunition of .22 calibre was found in the possession of one of tlui men. T|)o men will appear at the Police Court to-day.