MAIL PLANE BOGGED AT DARWIN

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 98, 19 January 1935, Page 7

MAIL PLANE BOGGED AT DARWIN

Pilot’s Observation AERODROME TO BE REPORTED UPON By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received January IS, 8.5 p.m.) Darwin, January 18. When taking off at Darwin aerodrome for Koepang at seven a.m. today with Empire air mails, the Imperial Airways liner Athena was bogged to a depth of three feet and the starboard wing damaged. Workmen immediately began digging the plane out. Captain Wilson, the pilot, expressed the opinion that the mishap might necessitate suspension of the air mail service until the Darwin aerodrome was made fit for heavy aircraft. It is expected that the Athena wiL be able to take off to-morrow. Captain Johnson, director of Civil Aviation, when informed at Melbourne of the Athena’s mishap, said he would obtain a report without delay on the condition of the Darwin aerodrome. He added that apparently the summer rains had been particularly heavy. He had no knowledge of this aerodrome giving similar trouble before. HONOURED BY BELGIUM Pilots on Congo Flight (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, January 17. The Cross of a Chevalier of the Order of the Lion of Africa was to-day bestowed by the King of the Belgians upon Mr. Kenneth Waller and M. Forthomme. his Belgian co-pilot, who made a notable flight last month to the Congo in the de Havilland Comet aeroplane in which Waller and Catheart Jones flew to Australia and back in record time. Mr. Rubin, owner of the machine, received the Cross of a Chevalier of the National Order of Belgium. REPORT DENIED London, January 17. The report that Imperial Airways, Ltd., is .constructing as an experiment an airliner to carry 70 passengers besides the crew is denied by the company.