FLYING TRAGEDIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 9

FLYING TRAGEDIES

THE EMPIRE DAY CRASHES MORE DEATHS REPORTED WOMAN AMONG VICTIMS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, May 31. (Received May 31, at 8.30 p.m.) Three more deaths have occurred as the result of Empire Air Day crashes, namely, Mrs Abbey and two passengers in a plane which crashed at Doncaster. An Irish solicitor, Mr Reginald Good, was injured in a crash at Wicklow and also,succumbed. A member of the House of Commons, Mr F. Montague (Lab.), a former Under-secretary for Air, will ask the House of Commons whether displays entailing risk can be justified. The Daily Herald, supporting Mr Montague, declares: “ These tragedies have shocked the public and it is clear that partly for popular amusement and partly for the sake of Air Ministry propaganda young flying men are ordered to risk their lives in unnecessary stunts.” The News Chronicle deprecates alarmism. It contends that aerobatics are a valuable part of military training. The Daily Mail points out that the Air Force sent up 1500 machines and 3000 men at displays, among which there were five deaths. It says that such casualties, although lamentable, are almost bound to overtake an expanding air force.