PLANE DOWN IN FLAMES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19023, 25 May 1936, Page 5

PLANE DOWN IN FLAMES

TASMAN FLYER KILLED W.'M. O'HARA'S TRAGIC END" CRASH AFTER TAKE-OFF: (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. May 25, 12.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 24. ' The aviator, Mr. W. M. O'Hara, who flew the Tasrnan Sea last October aifd subsequently toured New Zealand, was killed this morning when his Klamm plane crashed shortly after taking off at Eumungerie, 515 miles west of Sydney. The piano caught fire and Mr. O'Hara was incinerated. Since leaving Sydney on the first stage of . his leisurely' flight to Java, Mr. O'Hara had been staying on a sheep station, the property of Mr. Justiie Boyce's son, between Dubbo and Narromine. ... Mr. O'Hara's plane was parked about a mile from the station homestead in a paddock, whither he motored this morning with a party of friends, including his wife and Mr. Justice Boyce. Mr. O'Hara took off for Dubbo, where he intended to pick up a hat and continue to Cootamundra, intending to lunch with a fellow airman, Butler. DROP FROM 200 FT ' .The machine rose 200 ft. and circled. Mr. O'Hara waved farewell. The machine banked sharply, and immediately to earth. ',- The plane burst into flames, and Mr. O'Hara was thrown 4ft. from the machine, but riot out of reach of the flames... . ■"■-' •;,_ Mr. CHara soon became a living torch. Friends were unable to approach owing to the heat, but, finally, dragged him away with the branch of a tree. ; An examination of the body revealed that many bones had been broken.arid that he had suffered injuries to his head which in themselves, it is thought, would have proved fatal. ':".''■' The body, which was terribly burned, will be brought'to Sydney, awaiting relatives' instructions in regard to burial. ..

The stalling of the engine is believed to. be the cause of. the. plane taking a nosedive. The machine was completely destroyed, even the aluminium parts of the engine being reduced to small heaps of powder resembling powdered chalk. A number of lantern views of: New Zealand scenes were found abon.t 16ft. from the wreckage. The Air Investigation Committee has sent a special representative to the scene.

A New Zealander, Mr. W. M. O'Hara was the eldest son of Mrs. M. O'Hara, of Warkworth, and the late Mt.-Pat-rick O'Hara, of Wharepoa, Thames Valley, who arrived from. Ireland in the late nineties. Mr. O'Hara was born, at Thames. ,

Mr. O'Hara was a single man, 37 years of age. After receiving his early education at the IvOpti r.nd ether Thames Valley schools tie at Sydney University. He saw service during'the Great War with the machine-gun corps, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He enlisted as a private and later was. promoted > to commissioned! rank. .

Mr. O'Hara had been residing at Dampit, Java, since the war % He.had interests in rubber and coffee plantations. He first obtained 1 a flying license at the Perth Aero- Glub,- Western Australia, some years ago. He had flown quite a lot in Java, his.total flying time, being 350 hours. :""?. "*,".''

Mr. O'Hara was the -second-person- to make a solo flight across the Tasman, flying from Gerringong Beach, New South Wales, to Mangere aerodrome, Auckland, on October 18,. 1935. ... He landed at 8.32 p.m., making the flight in 12 hours 47 minutes, having left Australia at 7.45 a.m., New Zealand time. Mr. O'Hara was the first New Zealander to make the crossing.

Subsequently, Mr. O'Hara made a tour of the Dominion, Gisporlie being among the many towns he visited. ,