TRIBUTES BY AIRMEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 5

TRIBUTES BY AIRMEN

MEMORY OF O’HARA ,POPULAR AT MASCOT ■ SYDNEY, May 25. _ Many graceful tributes were paid to-day’ by leading airmen in Sydney to the memory of the Now Zealand flyer, Mr.' W.' M. .oNtarn, who was killed yesterday ■when Ms plane crashed at Eumungerie. The Sun’s aviation writer describes him as a most likeable and friendly airman, ever ready to do a good turn, incapable of ill-will and always genial.

“Everyone at Mascot lilted him,” he continues. “Probably this friendliness led to his undoing. He tvould have leaned away from the instrument board, waving out as he .climbed. His speed would slip back, and, before he was aware of it, the plane would have eomc to a critical stalling angle, where no longer there was sufficient flying speed for a lift when the nileron control goes and the machine falls. He would struggle to flatten out, but, withal, would be too near, the ground to regain control and then would come the crash. ’ ’

The Union Bank and the Shell Company are handling the funeral arrangements on behalf of Mr. O’Hara’s relatives in New Zealand. It is expected the body will be taken to New Zealand for burial.