HINKLER’S HOME RANSACKED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19394, 19 January 1933, Page 9

HINKLER’S HOME RANSACKED

EVERY ROOM IN DISORDER. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 17, Burglars ransacked every room in Mr Hinkler’s Southampton home. A postman calling with letters, saw the dining room window smashefl, and the police found the house in wild disorder. It is impossible yet to say what was stolen, but Mr Hinkler kept many valuable gilts and trophies there. REASON FOR RAID. SECRET PLANS FOR MACHINE STOLEN. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 18, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. “The Chronicle” says: Thieves may have stolen the secret plans of Squadron-Leader Hinkler’s mystery monoplane, with which he hoped to make a fortune, and bring aviation within the reach of the family man.

The plans would be of the greatest value if the thieves were able to place them in the right quarters. It is believed the raiders thoroughly examined the monoplane in the shed. It was also feared the blue prints were in the house, but the wife’s absence prevents certainty. A cable seeking information is being despatched to her, also inquiring what valuables were in the house.

MRS HINKLER’S COMMENT.

PLANS WORK OF FIVE YEARS. By Telegraph—Tress Association AUCKLAND, January 18. Interviewed regarding a London cablegram reporting a burglary at her residence. Mrs Hinkler said to-night that she had not yet received news of the burglary. The news was most disturbing. The plans referred to most probably would be those of a new light amphibian monoplane on which her husband had been working for some time, and the perfection of which constituted one of his greatest ambitions. At their home was a hangar housing Bert's model of a machine which he called the Ibis amphibian monoplane. If he did not deposit the plans in a bank before leaving England, they would most certainly be stored in a safe place in the house, together with other articles they both valued. Her husband had been working on the machine for at least five years. A model constructed at Southampton had been flown. She had had flights in it herself with her husband. His aim was to construct a light amphibian monophane of considerable cruising range, easily handled by one man.