TWO PLANES CRASH

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1927, Page 2

TWO PLANES CRASH

FOUR AIRMEN INCINERATED. [Australian it N.Z. Cable Association.] MELBOURNE. April 21. As the royal procession was entering the grounds of the Federal Government House, two aeroplanes, which were j-,a rt ieipat iug in an aerial welcome to the royal visitors, collided. Roth planes crashed to the ground, killing their four occupants. The planes were over the Police Barracks at St. Kilda Road, and many thousands of horrified spectators saw a lower plane rise and strike one above it. a little forward ol the tail. The crash could he heard a mile away. Both of the machines were smashed, and they immediately hurst into fianies. One plane was almost broken in halves, when it was being hurtled to the ground.

Crowds of people rushed to the scene, hut the jiolice cleared them away, smashing the occupants bodies to and then infantry men formed a cordon. keeping the crowds hack. It was a horrifying scene. AA omen screamed and fainted as the blazing aeroplane crashed to the ground, smashing the occupants’ bodies to pulp. The other aeroplane fell on tap of the Postal Department’s garage, and soon flames hurst Irom it. Ihe burning machine then set fire to the building. The aeroplane itself came through the roof like a thunderbolt. Shortly afterwards there was a terrific explosion, due probably to the bursting of a petrol tank, and the garage itself then burst into flames. Heroic efforts were made to get to the imprisoned airmen, but the flames were too fierce, and when the outbreak finally subsided, me bodies oi the airmen were not recognisable.

FURTHER 'PARTICULARS. .MELBOURNE, April 22. Each aeroplane carried a pilot and observer. One machine fell in Aitkcn Street. The bodies of both men were strapped to the scats. The machine was such a mass of flame that it was impossible to get the bodies out. An eve-witness states the trouble appealed to he caused hy the rear aeroplane' propeller striking the rear of another machine. The machines were flying close together, one rising rapidly and the other apparently about to descend. The upper machine suddenly seemed to drop and struck the lower one. and with a loud report a cloud of smoke hurst from the lower one and in an m stunt both craft were spinning with terrific force to the ground. An official statement says the two mac bines collided at a height of 300 feet and crashed. The machines belonged to Number One Squadron and were sent up when the Duke left tho Renown in tho royal barge All the pilots were ordered not to stunt, and to f|y at a height sufficient to enable them to glide to a landing in case ot an accident. The victims were Harry Thornton, of the Citizen Air Force, Lieut. Robert Dines, Fliglit-Sergt. Hay and Mechanic Ramsden. The last three are members of the Australian Air Force.