C. J. MELROSE KILLED.

Wairarapa Age, 6 July 1936, Page 5

C. J. MELROSE KILLED.

’PLANE APPARENTLY BREAKS TO PIECES. WELL-KNOWN ENGINEER ALSO LOSES HIS LIEB. TRAGEDY NEAR MELBOURNE. (Received This Day, 0.1 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 5. Mr. C. J. Melrose, the young South Australian aviator and Lieut.-Col. A. G. Camphfell, the , well-known mining engineer, were killed this morning at Melton 30 i miles from Melbourne, while on a flight to Adelaide. Melrose, who recently undertook a goodwill flight on behalf of the South Australian centenary celebrations, was flying with’’Lieut.-Col. Campbell to Adelaide to begin a flight to Central Australia. While over Melton, . when flying at 3000 feet, the plane apparently went into a power spin and appeared to break into pieces, which were scattered over an area of two square miles. Both men were killed instantly. Lieut.-Col. Campbell was making the trip on behalf of a syndicate of Melbourne and Adelaide business men to inspect gold mining areas at Pine Creek, Central Australia. Melrose, who was flying his Heston Phoenix highwing cabin monoplane, which he recently flew from England, was the best known young aviator in Australia. His career was short but- brilliant. Aged 21 years, he learned to fly 22 months ago in a plane given him by his mother. This machine he flew round Australia in five days 3.1 hours, breaking the existing record by one day 21 hours. He flew to England in eight days, nine hours, creating a record, when he went to enter in the Centenary air race. He was the youngest competitor in the air race, gaining third place in the handicap section. On his last flight from England he interrupted his journey at Singapore to search for Sir Charles KingsfordSmith. PREMIER’S REGRETS. LOSS OF ANOTHER GREAT AIRMAN. (Received This Dey, 0.10 a.m.) CANBERRA, July 5. “I regret exceedingly that yet another of Australia's great airman has gone to his death,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, to-night. He added that Melrose had won considerable fame in a brief career. Not the least valuable of his achievements was his skilful search for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith last year. The sympathy of all Australia will go to his devoted mother.