THE BROOKLAND TRAGEDY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18458, 17 April 1922, Page 5

THE BROOKLAND TRAGEDY.

SIR ROSS SMITH’S FATAL FLIGHT. * THE FINAL SCENES. LONDON, April 13. A special representative was to have accompanied Sir Ross Smith on his first trial flight, but Sir Hoss said, "Sorry, old man, there is no room. You will get a better view from another 'plane.’’ He ascended a Vernon machine, which kept company with Sir Ross’s machine. On descending, the representative and Sir Keith watched Ross’s second flight. When the machine developed, a spinning nose-dive and became uncontrollable. Sir Keith buried his face in his hands, and flung himself to the earth to avoid seeing his brother crash and | his terrible fate. When the end came he groaned, "It’s all up. Ah! my poor father and mother; this will kill them." Then he insisted on going across to see the wreckage. On the way he said, "If it had only been me instead of Ross. If I’d only been there too. What a ghastly finale.” Sir Ross’s forehead was terribly bruised. He had a dreadfal gash on his left cheek. Fifty feet from earth Ross cut out his engine, and made a great swoop like a wounded bird trying to get away, then came the end, which was mercifully hidden from us by the banked racing track.

Sir Keith examined the engine carefully after the accident, but failed to discover the cause. He said that these spins were generally due to tail trouble, but it was tail trouble this time. Motoring back to London, the representative urged Sir Keith to give up flying. Sir Keith gave a typically gallant reply: “We must not lose our nerve.” Just before going up, Sir Ross said: "If anything goes wrong in the world of flight, don’t complain or blame anyone. It is the last thing in the world I would desire. We are taking a risk knowing the danger, and remember that Australians never squeal." Sir Keith declared that Sir Ross died as he would have desired, in harness, in a sharp and sudden headlong dive to earth. He was dead before he knew the bitterness of defeat. Sir Keith proposes to lake both bodies to Australia. A MYSTERIOUS ACCIDENT. LONDON, April 14. Sir Ross Smith was accompanied by Captain Cockerell on the trial trip, but the death flight was the first time he had handled the controls of a Vicker’s amphibian, which recently won a £lO,OOO Government prize. Sir Ross Smith’s last word was "Cheerio," to Captain Cockerell, as he put the wheels in motion.

Lieut. Bennett was moaning, but died as he was taken from the wreckThe fabric was torn off the machine, which was so wrenched that the propellers, which split in two, lay facing inwards. When the doctor motored up, Sir Keith, who had borne up bravely, said; "Please look to my brother and see if there’s any chance." The doctor immediately saw that Ross's condition was hopeless and returned to Keith, who had walked a little way apart. Keith said, "I see by your face that all is over.” The doctor nodded. Captain Cockerell says he is unable to explain the accident. Questioned, he said the machine was new. Sir Ross Smith had also had some months’ comparative inactivity from flying. The situation was something like a new mount in the first run of the hunting season. Other experts are doubtful whether it is a case of engine failure or that the pilot did not allow sufficient height for flattening after a spin. OBSERVER’S VIEWS. LONDON, April 14. The manager of Brooklands Motor Works says that if Sir Ross had had an extra hundred feet he could have righted the aeroplane. Another observer says the engine stopped, but this had not been confirmed. The bodies are to be embalmed and taken to Australia for a State funeral.

FRENCHJRIBUTE. PARIS, April li. All newspapers publish appreciative and sympathetic articles on Sir Ross Smith. The Petit Parisien says that the world profoundly grieves for the tragedy that overwhelmed the greatest master of the air.

SORROW IN ADELAIDE. Received, April 16, 5.5 p.m. ADELAIDE, April 15. Sir Ross Smith’s death shocked the community. Flags were half masted and there were many referances at Good Friday services. Sir Keith Smith cabled the news to a friend, who broke it to the parents. The latter are deeply stricken at the loss of their famous son. Messages of sympathy are pouring in from all sides.

UNIVERSAL TRIBUTES. Received, April 16, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, April 15. Universal tributes are paid by all

the British, French and Continental Press to Sir Ross Smith’s daring and resourcefulness. NEW ZEALAND’S SYMPATHY. WELLINGTON, April 16. The following cable message was despatched by His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Jellicoe, to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth : “I deeply regret to learn of the tragic death of Sir Ross Smith, ending as it does a career of brilliant achievement and still more brilliant promise. On behalf of this Dominion. I beg to express sincere sympathy with the relatives of Sir Ross Smith and Lieut. Bennett in their sad bereavement.”

THE WORLD FLIGHT OFF. Received, April I'6, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, April 15. It is annuounced that Sir Keith Smith will not carry out the world flight. DEATH BY MISADVENTURE. THE CORONER’S VERDICT. Received, April 16, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, April 15. The Coroner, at Weybridge, at the inquest on Sir Ross Smith and Lieut. Bennett, said it was an exceedingly sad case. He sympathised not only with the relatives but with aviation interests. Australia had lost one of her best flying boys, who had done good service to the Empire. Mr Muller, Superintendent for Vickers at Brooklands, gave evidence that the machine was perfect and said the fact that Sir Ross Smith got her out of her spin halfway down proved that the controls were intact. Captain Cockerill stated in his evidence that he handed the machine to Sir Ross Smith after a half hour flight. He climbed from the iiiachine leaving the engines running. Sir Ross Smith' took his seat and flew off. The deceased knew the machine perfectly. The only thing which attracted Captain Cockerill’s attention was when Sir Ross Smith shut off the engine and was in the spin, the machine was not running. A verdict was returned of death by misadventure.