ALONG THE SKYWAYS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 32 (Supplement)

ALONG THE SKYWAYS

AVIATION’S LOSS. LATE MR McGREQOR. WELL-KNOWN HAMILTONIAN. LOCAL JOTTINGS. The death this week of Squadron Leadei- M. C. McGregor, M.C., D.F.C., and bar, following an accident when attempting to land at the Rongotai Aerodrome, removes from New Zealand aviation circles one of its most distinguished figures. Famous as a war-time flier he gained a place in the first rank of the Empire’s fighting pilots. A resident of Hamilton for many years "Mad Mac” as he was afi eotionately known, t was chiefly noted for his modesty and despite his remarkable achievements never mentioned them to any one. A few terse sentences was how he characteristically described his record of five days 15 i hours in the Melbourne Centenary Air Race. Despite three very severe crashes and consequent ill-health he was, perhaps, the Dominion’s most skilful pilot. Several visiting planes called in at the Walkat-o airport this week, the most interesting visits being the Miles I Falcon cabin monoplane, owned by I Union Airways, in which SquadronLeader McGregor crashed on Wednesday. The first visit was last Friday, when Squadron-Leader McGregor, with two passengers, flew the plane from Palmerston North to Hamilton in the record time of one hour. He returned on the Saturday. On Tuesday the plane was piloted by Mr A. V. Jury, •with Mr Hamilton as passenger, arrived in Hamilton from Palmerston North, and on Wednesday the pair returned to Wellington. Squad-ron-Leader McGregor relieved Mr Jury at Palmerston North. Last Saturday Mr W. M. O’Hara flew his Klemm Eagle monoplane to Thames, and on Monday Miss Parkinson, of the New Plymouth Club, arrived in Z.K.—A.A.X. She has been holidaying in the Waikato and will probably fly back during the week-end. The machine is the one which was smashed at Te Rapa two years ago, when it ran round the aerodrome, out of control, when started by a member of the Western Federated 'Club. The machine then was burnt, on the road next. day. It was then a wooden Gypsy Moth, but ilias been rebuilt as a metal Moth. I Last Sunday Dr. M. M. Hocldn and Dr. Mary Douglas flew up to Mangere j n z,K. —A.C.C. lo collect A.A.T., which I had been loaned to the Auckland .Club. I The plane was not available as one of the Auckland pilots had a forced landing in it and the Hamilton pilots returned home. On M-onday Mr North, i grouncl engineer of the Auckland Club, . returned Z.K.—A.A.T., going back with Mr K. Robinson in Z.K. —A.A.U., j the pair flying down together. Mr T. I Sheehan, ground engineer at. Hamilj ton. gave the machine a top overhaul | and on Friday Mr J. Bell, of Matamata, left for his holidays in Central Otago, , with the plane. The instructor. Fliglit- ] Lieut- Lett, returns from his holidays | to*morrow.

RECALLED TO ROME. EXILED ARCTIC FLIER. RETURN AFTER FOUR YEARS. General Umberto Nobile, leader of the disastrous Nobile airship expedition to the North Pole In 1929, who left his country in disgrace, has been summoned back by Signor Mussolini after four years’ exile in Russia. His experience and technical knowledge of aeronautical problems are required by Italy. General Nobile became famous as commander of the giant dirigible Italia which crashed on drifting Ice near the North Pole In May 1929. For days the general and a small party of survivors lingered on the Ice. When at last a rescue 'plane found them it was only able to pick up some of the men. The general was among the rescued. The rest of the crew perished. Although he was almost unconscious when rescued, General Nobile was condemned for allowing himself as commander of a ship to'be rescued before his men. A sick and broken man, he retired into obscurity. In 1932 Mussolini authorised him to go to Russia, rthe Soviet Government employed him as an airship constructor. When the Soviet gave up building airships General Nobile, stayed on as a technical advisor to the Soviet Commissar for Air. Now he is returning home to work for his own country and, he hopes, to re-establish his good name. Official circles are maintaining secrecy concerning the general’s recall. At General Nobile’s luxurious flat in the residential quarter of Rome his seventeen-year-old motherless daughter, Maria, who lives there with an aunt, was making preparations for her father's return.