WRECKED MACHINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21939, 24 October 1934, Page 12

WRECKED MACHINE

OYER SEVEN YEARS OLD PREPARATORY TROUBLES EXPERIENCES IN RACE DOGGED BY MISFORTUNE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, Oct. 22 The machine in which Flying-Officer Gilraan and Mr. Baines lost their lives in Italy was seven or eight years old. The Fairey Aviation Company was not connected with its entry for the Centenary race and had nothing to do with its condition. The last of this typo of aircraft was turned out in 1928-27. Captain Baines, father of one victim, saw the airmen off on October 20. His mother, who had just heard of his death after telephoning the Royal Aero Club for news, said: " My son had a lot of trouble preparing the aeroplane, and experienced many set-backs. He had not slept for several nights." The victim is their third son lost under tragic circumstances. One was killed in a flying accident and another in a gun explosion. The Fairey Fox was dogged by misfortune throughout. The airmen were forced to land near Lyons owing to engine trouble and a split tail. When they made an early start today after spending , the night sleeping beside their machine, it made a sudden half-turn when taxi-ing across the aerodrome, and nearly capsized. The Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, and the Secretary of State for Air, the Marquess of Londonderry, have telegraphed their sympathy to Lord Bledisloe. Mr. Gilman, who was single, was a popular and enthusiastic pilot officer of a bombing squadron of the Royal Air Force, of which he was promoted adjutant last year. He had 1560 flying hours to his credit! Mr. Baines, aged 29, was born in England. He was single and was an experienced air mail pilot. In Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, ho had flown 2000 hours. He obtained three months' leave to enter the race. His parents live at Shoreham-on-Sea. Mr. Baines owned the machine, which he bought cheaply from the Air Ministry because it was unsuitable for civil purposes. He and Mr. Oilman were sharing the expenses. The Daily Mail, in paying a tribute to the performance of Scott and Black, says it is sad that "such a triumph should have been accompanied by the tragic deaths of Messrs. Gilman and Baines. The News Chronicle, citing Scott and Black's achievement as "an epic of the air," expresses profound regret for the catastrophe which attended the New Zealander and his companion.