SYDNEY PLANE DISASTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23260, 23 July 1945, Page 4

SYDNEY PLANE DISASTER

Runway Adequate SYDNEY. July 21. Commenting on the plane disaster, in which 12 persons, including six naval officers, were kilied, Captain P. G. Taylor, distinguished I Australian airman, said the captain ' of the aircraft was of exceptional a'oiiitv and experience as a pilot. He was certain the pilot would have done the best that could he done in the circumstances. •‘Tragedies of this kind will occur as long as an individual, both in the air and on the ground, is expected to make up for shortcomings of equipment and of the organisation with which he i- ’ovallv serving.” It is officially stated that the limited runway take-off at Mascot was not the cause of the crash. The aircraft was airborne when the crash occurred. The runway is now of 4900 her. and wa< adeouate for the loading the aircraft carried. The runwav is being lengthened to COOO feet and will be completed in six 'Alving Officer F. F. Hildreth, of Hastings. New Zealand, was among those kilied in the Mascot plane crash on Thursday night. He was co-pilot of the Liberator. Funeral Held More than 2000 persons attended the funeral of the 11 men who were buried in Rookwood war cemetery. Sydney, yesterday. The body of the twelfth victim was recovered yesterday, and his funeral will be held to-morrow. Lieutenant-Colonel W. F. Mothes. New Zealand liaison officer and represents; ire of New Zealand organisations in Svdney attended the funeral of the victims. Among the wreaths sent to the cemetery were those from the High Commissioner ’Mi’ J G. Barclay) the Trade Commissioner 'Mr W. Taylor' and the New Zeala War Unit.