“CRASH”STAGED

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1933, Page 6

“CRASH”STAGED

AIR PAGENT AT HAMILTON

LARGE CROWD DECEIVED

HAMILTON, December 12,

A. niocji aerial battle at,,the Hamilton air pageant yesterday had an exciting conclusion when Flight-Lieutenant 1). Mi Allan appeared to lose control of bis machine at a height of about 2000 feet and crash headlong to the ground. Most of the crowd were deceived, am* it was several minutes before they realise that the “crash” had been deliberately staged.. Shortly before four o’clock Mr Allan’s aeroplane and another machine with Pilot-Officer R. A. Ivirkup at the controls left the aerodrome and commenced to climb steadily. At 4000 feet the aeroplanes were' about two miles apart. Mr Allen came in rapidly from the western corner of the aerodrome, and both men were soon manoeuvring for the effective position on the tail of the other machine. " , ■ - After the “battle” had lasted several minutes- Mr Allan commenced to dive as if his machine were out of contral. At 1500 feet he dived at great speed, and a thick cloud of light yellow smoke shot from the exhaust. In a few seconds he disappeared from sight into a gully' behind a belt of high pine trees on the eastern side of the aerodrome, leaving behind a long trail of smoke. Believing that Air Allan had really era she da crowd of more that 500 left the aerodrome and ran across the paddocks in the direction in which he had disappeared. The St. John ambulance also set out across the paddocks, and the crowd was swelled by the addition of a number of police constables and Boy Scouts. As soon as he saw that a large number of the people had taken the ‘‘crash” seriously the announcer informed the public /that the affair was arranged beforehand, and. that Mr Allan was quite safe. A few minutes later Mr Allan, proved this by flying low over, the crown and landing.