AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22823, 6 March 1936, Page 7

AVIATION

THE SWANSEA ACCIDENT CHARGE AGAINST PILOT HOBART, March 5. After the inquiry into the air accident at Swansea, when Mrs Cotton and her daughter were killed, the coroner committed Pilot-officer E. V. Lansell, of the Royal Australian Air Force, for trial on a charge of manslaughter. The evidence disclosed that three Air Force bombers prior to the accident indulged in " stunting," and contrary to regulations dived within 200 feet of the ground. LanselPs explanation of the accident was that his machine was sluggish in leaving the ground, rising only three feet compared with his companions' 40 feet at the scene of the accident. When an Air Force bomber failed to rise at Swansea landing ground and dashed into a crowd of spectators on February 6 Mrs A. T. Cotton and Miss Jean Cotton were killed and other persons injured. The bomber, with three others, had flown from Point Cook aerodrome in order to carry out air exercises and photograph extensive parts of the country south of Launceston. PLANES FOR ATTACHES LONDON, March 4. In order to enable the covering of more territory in less time And reduce travelling expenses, the Government is providing aeroplanes for British air attaches at Washington, Bnenos Aires, Berlin, and Brussels, all of whom arc pilots.