AIR FORCE TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 7

AIR FORCE TRAGEDY

CRASH AT PAGEANT DEATH OF NOTED FLIER LONDON LORD MAYOR’S SON PRINCE OF WALES PRESENT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received July 1, 6.5 p.m. LONDON, June 30. The Prince of Wales nad just alighted from an aeropianu at the Royal Air Force pageant at Hendon, ut which there was an attendance uf 60,000, when two regular and two auxiliary squadrons, totalling 18 planes, began a demonstration of formation. flying. Tho ’planes were ’circ- ; ng over the crowd at a speed of 120 miles an hour, when an auxiliary 2seatcr Hawker Hart day bomber’s engine suddenly cut out. The pilot swerved violently to avoid the spectators, went into a spiral dive, and nosedived into the ground on the far side uf tho aerodrome in full sight of the spectators, who were agnast when they heard the noise of the crash and saw a large column of smoke immediately arising and the machine bursting into flames. The observer, Squadron-Leader S. B. Collett, son of the Lord Mayor of Louuon, Sir Charles Collett, was trapped in the cockpit and burned to death, while the pilot, Flying-Officer R. F. Lea, escaped with slight injuries. Meanwhile, in accordance with the Royal Air Force tradition, tho squadrons carried on the display, and the programme was continued. The Prince of Wales, from the Royal stand, immediately sent a message of condolence to the Lord Mayor. Squadron-Leader Collett’s wife was attending the pageant. She collapsed and was escorted from the aerodrome. Squadron-Leader Collett served in the Air Force during the war, and at the time of his death was commanding the City of London squadron, to which the day bomber belonged.