AEROPLANES COLLIDE

Wairarapa Age, 22 April 1927, Page 5

AEROPLANES COLLIDE

FOUR OCCUPANTS KILLED. AT ROYAL RECEPTION. FATAL END TO AERIAL WELCOME (Received Thursday, 10.30 p.m.) '“MELBOURNE, April 21. As the Royal procession was entering the grounds of the Federal Government House, two aeroplanes, which were participating in an aerial welcome to the Royal visitors collided. Both crashed to the ground, killing the four occupants. The planes were over the police barracks at St. Kilda Road and thousands of horrified spectators saw the lower plane rise and strike the one above it a little forward of the tail. The crash could be heard a mile away. Both machines were smashed and immediately burst into flames. Crowds rushed to the scene, but the police cleared them away, and then infantrymen formed a cordon keeping the crowds back.

It was a horrifying scone. Women screamed and fainted as the blazing aeroplanes crashed to the ground, smashing the occupants’ bodies to pulp. The other aeroplane fell on top of the postal department’s garage and the flames from the burning machine set fire to the building. The aeroplane came through the roof like a thunderbolt. Shortly afterwards there was a terrific explosion, probably the bursting of the petrol tank, and the garage then burst into flames.

Heroic efforts were made to get to the imprisoned airmen, but the flames were too fierce and when the outbreaK was finally subdued the bodies were unrecognisable.—(P.A.)

A message received at 1.20 a.m. states that according to an eye-witness the trouble appeared to be caused by the rear aeroplane propeller striking the rear of the other machine. The machines were flying close together, one rising rapidly end the other apparently about to descend. The upper machine suddenly seemed to drop and struck the lower one with a loud report. A cloud of smoke burst from the lower one, and in an instant both craft were spinning at terrific force to the ground. An official statement says that the two machines collided at a height of three hundred feet and crashed. The machines went up when the Duke of York left the Renown. All the pilots were ordered not to stunt, and to fly at a height sufficient to enable them to glide to a landing in case of accident. The victims were: Harry Thornton, Citizen Air Force, Lieut. Robert Dines, Flight-Sergeant Hay and Mechanic Ramsden. The last three were members of the Australian Air Force. THE EASTCHURCH ACCIDENT ' VERDICT AT THE INQUEST. (Received Thursday, 5.5 p.m) LONDON, April 21. Expert witnesses at the inquiry into the Vickers-Virginia aeroplane smash expressed an opinion that the striking of the stationary machine was due to an error of judgment in taking off, as there was plenty of room. Squadron-Leader Lees, in evidence, said that two struts were carried away after the impact. The pilot was then rising, but throttled, down. He did not think he would have done likewise in similar circumstances unless the machine was out of control.

A verdict of accidental death was returned.—(A. and N.Z)