AVIATION TRAGEDY AT SURBITON

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 50, 22 November 1919, Page 7

AVIATION TRAGEDY AT SURBITON

MISS WOOLLEY DISSATISFIED WITH INQUEST

WANTS MINISTERIAL INQUIRY

I By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, November IS. The Australian Cross Association interviewed Miss Woolley (fiancee of the Into Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas). She said she was thoroughly dissatisfied with the conduct of the inquest. She was present at Acton on October ;.'0 when the ma-' chine made, a bad landing, and Colonel Douglas escaped with a slight injury to his hand. Thereafter she saw Colonel Douglas daily, until the celling Wore his departure, lie often scimcd uneasy, whereas prior.to Oclolier .'III he wi;s full of confidence, ami regarded the machine j and the. engine. as perfect, and considered it Ihe best he had o.vi r llown. Jlo watched the subsequent rc|airs anxiously, and these lasted until the eve of the departure. Colonel Douglas fell he must get away, as he feared people were jeering at bis long delay. Miss Woolley fears that rwing in this he may have departed against his belter judgment, although Colonel ■ Douglas never voiced.any doubts in aference to Ihe machine. Aliss Woolley slates sho is determined to press for an inquiry by Ihe Air Ministry as iu whether tho lc-.ls-.were adequate. Si e feels sum Colonel Douglas- would have llown'higher if he couid, as lie always l'avoiir-.d high llying.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - MISS AYOOLLEY TO APPEAR BEFORE IXV USTK'iATIi)N COM.M ITTEE. (liec. November 21, , r i..Vp.m.) London, November 18. ft. is understood that illiss Wool ley will be allorded an opportunity of appearing before the .Air .ilinistiw Investigation Committee, which is sitting in private. The authorities are reluctant lo anticipate the lesult, but the Aust'lilian Press Association correspondent understands that they do not attach importance to the .suggestion, that there is evidenco of insufficient tests having been made. They will probably bo able to satisfy Miss AA T oolley on that point. It is pointed' out llii.it Ihe machine underwent a thorough, independent ex- . amination by the officials, who granted u , cerlificato . of airworthiness prior to the departure. Experts agree' tho machine probably developed a "spin" in the clouds, and failed to right itself owing to its low altitude—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AIRMEN'S FUNERAL IMPRESSIVE SERVICE AT C.KAVU- ~ SID?. London, November 18.. A large party attended the funeral of the aviators, Lieutenant-Colonel Douglas and Lieutenant Ross, at Mrookwood. The mourners included Jliss Woolley (Colonel) Douglas's fiancee), aiid many personal friends of the airmen. Colonel Durrant represented Australian headquarters, and was' accompanied by a parly of Australian officers, who acted as pall-bearers. The firing party jojned the cortege at Brookwood and fired a salulo at the graveside, after which an Australian bugler sounded the "Last Post." An impressive service was conducted by Chaplain-Colonel Maitland (Church of England) and Chaplain-Captain Heath (YV'esleyaii). Colonel AVaterhouse represented General F. 11, Sykes (Chief of tho Air Staff), and Major Bernard attended on behalf of the Air Ministry. There were many beautiful wreaths, including those from Austrian Headquarters, Air. Andrew Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia), the llonnslow Aerodrome staff, General Sykes, and officers of the Australian Flying Corps.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-