SWIFT TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1933, Page 3

SWIFT TRAGEDY

■:, - -f-f- ■■■■ vr— - ‘ " AIRMAN AND GIRL KILLED

MACHINE’S SUDDEN PLUNGE

LONDON, July 7

Swift tragedy overtook a London civil airman and a woman passenger on July 6. They were killed at Shogness, Lincipnshire, when their machine crashed fr.pm a height of about 10,0 ft. and burst into flames.

The airman was Mr Hubert Bcntinck Chantrey, aged 29, and his passenger was Miss Vera. Field. They flew from London to Edinburgh cn July 3, and on , the following day they flew back as far as Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire. On the morning of July 6 they set out on the return to Heston, and made a detour to Skegness aerodrome for luncheon. They did not. go into Skegness, but after their meal set off immediately for Hestcn.

Air J. 11. Hull, a pilot.on the staff of'the aerodropisj , who .saw the fliers start, said: “Mr Chantrey made a good take-off, and then at a height of 100 ft. he straightened out and kicked the aeroplane round into a> left-hand turn down tlie k wind with hardly any bank. Tlie machine went into a spin, made about one and a-half turns, plunged to the ground, and burst itno flames. There was not even a preliminary flicker, but an instantaneous flare-up.”

Several people saw the crash, and there was a rush to the scene. It was however, impossible <to make any attempt at rescue owing to the heat and the flames. The Skegness fire brigade was quickly on the' spot ancf put out the fire, hut when the. ..bodies were taken from the wreckage they were charred beyond recognition. . •

Mr Chantrey, who learned (to fly lost summer, flew his own machine, which he used for business purposes, . frequently flying to Birmingham.- He was the London representative of a\ Birmingham firm. TJis father, Mr H> Chantrey, of London, is a partner ‘in Messrs Chantrey, Button and - Company, chartered accountants. A pathetic, feature of the tragedy is that Air CJ.iantifey’s parents had travelled- on July 5 from Llandudno, wjiere they had spent Whitsuntide, and they were not aware .qf what .had happened .fintjl they arrived home. Miss Field had been a friend of Air Chantrey and his family for some years. She was an ejitlmsj.astic airwoman and lived with her mother, who was so. seriou.sly ill that on the night of the tragedy she was not told of her daughtefjS'ci'ea tli. Iff .was; :ouly last Fetor ruary j that Alias field’s father, a: retired; .business!lAan, died. \!...•