PLANES HURTLE TO EARTH IN FLAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 26, 22 April 1927, Page 1

PLANES HURTLE TO EARTH IN FLAMES

TRAGIC ROYAL WELCOME DISASTER AT MELBOURNE By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright MELBOURNE, Thursday. A shocking flying tragedy occurred in Melbourne to-day- as the Royal procession was entering the grounds of the Federal Government House. Two airplanes, which were taking part in a welcome to the Duke and Duchess of York, collided in mid-air, and both of them crashed. The four occupants of the two planes were all killed.

At the time of the collision the two machines were flying over the police barracks in St. Kilda Road. Thousands of horrified spectators saw the lower plane rise and strike the one above it a little forward of the tail. The crash could be heard a mile away. Both machines were smashed immediately and burst into flames. One plane, almost broken in halves, hurtled to the ground. Crowds rushed to the scene, but the police cleared them away. Infantrymen then formed a cordon and kept the crowds back. It was a horrifying scene. Women screamed and fainted as the blazing plane crashed to the ground. The other machine fell on top of the Postal Department’s garage. Flames from the burning plane set fire to the building. The plane went through the roof like a thunderbolt. Shortly afterwards there was a terrific explosion, probably the bursting of the petrol tank, and the garage then burst into flames. Heroic efforts were made to reach the imprisoned airmen, but the flames were too fierce, and when the outbreak was finally subdued their bodies were unrecognisable. An official statement says the two machines collided at a height of 300 ft and crashed.

The machines belonged to No. X squadron. They went up when the Duke left the Renown in the Royal barge. All the pilots were ordered not to “stunt” and to fly at a height sufficient to enable them to glide to a landing in case of accident. The victims were Mr. Harry Thornton, of the Citizen Air Force; Lieutenant Robert Dines, Flight-Sergeant Hay and Mechanic Ramsden, the last three being members of the Australian Air Force.—A. and N.Z.