BURNING COLLIERY MAY BE BOMBED
Sydney, April 22. The Government is considering a proposal to quench a fire in the Cessnock colliery by dropping bombs on the workings from R.A.A.F. planes. The Air Minister (Mp Drakeford) has promised to send bombing experts to Cessnock to examine the position. The proposal is to collapse the whole of the earth above the fire by using delayed action bombs, and so smother the fire with soil. A possible difficulty is the risk of blowing more craters to the seat of the fire and so permitting air to circulate. The burning area covers 20 acres, and flames over 50 feet high are spouting from the coal seam. Senior Army officers who have inspected the fire say that bombing i/ the only practical way of sealing oft the seam. R.A.A.F. bombing experts advocate the use of Beaufighter, Mitchell, or l ockheed Hudson aircraft to make low-icvei attacks, using blast-type bombs of 150 and 250 pounds. The occupants of nearby houses would have to be evacuated temporarily.
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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 93, 23 April 1946, Page 5
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171BURNING COLLIERY MAY BE BOMBED Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 93, 23 April 1946, Page 5
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