EXPLOSION AT AERODROME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 104, 4 May 1937, Page 8

EXPLOSION AT AERODROME

MARRIED MAN KILLED

ACCIDENT AT PALMERSTON NORTH I Per Press Association. ] PALMERSTON N., May 3. A shocking accident occurred at Milson Aerodrome, Mr. Frederic Charles Norton, a middle-aged married man, being killed instantly when using an plant to cut the top off an empty benzine drum. It is believed that fumes remaining in the drum caused the explosion. The late Mr. Norton formerly resided in Wanganui, where he conducted a motor garage. He was keenly interested in aviation and for some time owned an old Avro ’plane which he housed at the Wanganui Airport. The machine was considerably damaged when it was blown on to the top of the hangar at the Beil Block aerodrome at New Plymouth and was never flown after the late Mr. Norton was obliged to make a forced landing in it near Wangaehu. The late Mr. Norton was the holder of ground engineer’s licences and for some time had been employed as an engineer by Union Airways at Palmerston North. When he had his Avro at Wanganui, he was a well-known figure at the Wanganui Airport and was noted for his daring.

WOMAN’S BODY FOUND EVIDENCE AT INQUEST [ Per Presi Association. 1 NAPIER, May 3. Evidence of identification was given at the inquest into the death of Dora Beatrice Yule, Palmerston North, single, whose body was found in the sea on Saturday. A not? was left for the relatives, intimating that she was worried by ill-health and her body would be found in the sea.