AIR ACCIDENT MYSTERY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20531, 24 September 1936, Page 9

AIR ACCIDENT MYSTERY

RETICENCE OF BRITISH OFFICIALS DID MENZIES MEET FOUL PLAY? United Press Association—By RJectrt* Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 22. Mystery still surrounds the accident to Flight-Lieutenant Guy L. Menzies of the Royal Air Force, at the North Weald Aerodrome, Epping. Although it was stated that an inquiry would be held a few days later nothing has been heard since. All the Air Ministry will say is, “The whole matter is held up. Presumably FlightLieutenant Menzies is not well enough to give evidence. We have not had a report yet from the Air Force stations.” FOUND BENEATH WINDOW DOCTORS BAFFLED BY WOUNDS Flight-Lieutenant Guy L. Menzies of the Royal Air Force, late of Sydney, was found unconscious beneath a dormitory window at the North Weald Aerodror- - Epping, early on the morning of August 24. He was attired in blood stained pyjamas. The airman was found lying feet downwardso n the ground, forty feet beneath the dormitory window, where he had apparently lain unconscious for six hours. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition. Doctors were baffled on account of his wounds, as it was suggested that they were inconsistent with a fall from a window. The airman’s face was badly injured, but there was only a slight bruise on the head. The Air Ministry was silent on the matter, but it was announced that a Court of Inquiry, consisting of Royal Air Force officers and Air Ministry officials would sit at the aerodrome the next day to investigate the matter. Tasman Flight Recalled Flight-Lieutenant Menzies who is 27 years of age, first came into worldwide notice as an aviator early in January, 1931, when he made th” first solo flight across the Tasman Sea from Sydney to New Zealand. He left Sydney early on January 7. and landed in a swamp at 3.12 p.m. the next day on the marshv banks of the Wanganui River, on the West Coast, about flftyfour miles south ot Hokitika. His machine overturned ar I was damaged, but he escaped serious injury. The flight had taken 12 hours 12 minutes, over a distance of 1066 miles. Tills beat the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s fastest journey by 2 hours 13 minutes. Flight-Lieutenant Menzle's machine was the Southern Cross Junior, in which Sir Charles had made a record flight from England to Australia. The flight was made in dramatic circumstances and Flight-Lieutenant Menzle's arrival in New Zealand create' great interest. Until after he had left Sydney no one knew of his daring project, the first news of which was contained in letters which he had left behind and which were not opened until after his departure. The weather was rr ~h over the whole of the journey and he landed with only half a gallon of petrol left.