AIR TRAGEDY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11027, 27 December 1928, Page 6

AIR TRAGEDY

SECOND EDITION

PILOT AND PASSENGER ’PLANE BURST INTO FLAMES. (Received 10.15 a.m.) United Press Assn —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, This Bay. . After spinning several times in the air at a height of 300 feet a Moth aeroplane nose-dived and crashed at Essendan. The machin e instantly burst into flames and Brian Rhodes, 24. pilot, and Alfred Heaton. 18, a passenger were burnt to death. The flames were so fierce that the machine was almost in ashes before tlie spectators reached it. It was impossible to extricate the bodies of the victims until the fine died down. Rhodes was regarded as one of the cleverest pilots in the Melbourne section of the Aero Club. The scene of the accident is n remote cue ot grass paddocks and ten minutes elapsed before -people arrived. SHOT HIS BROTHER). Philip Pope, who: disappeared aftei his brother was shot on Monday, was found by the police at a picnic ground, where he had just' participated in a race. He made a statement concerning his wanderings since his disappearance. He was later charged with having murdered his brother. TWO MEN DROWNED. PERTH, Tlii s Day. When Allan Micholsion. 35. got into difficulties while swimming in a railway dam at Durracoppin, William Street 25! went to his assistance. Roth were drowned. The bodies were recovered.—Australian P’ress Assn.