AIRMEN’S LIVES THROWN AWAY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3323, 30 October 1919, Page 3

AIRMEN’S LIVES THROWN AWAY.

LONDON, Oct. 25.

The Air Ministry has appointed :1 Cominission to inqtiire into the deaths of airmen whieli occurred on the Englamil. to Egypt. air route. Colonel G. L. Hemlesoir, of the Air Force, says that pilots einployeid on "the route egged him to disclose the position. He says tlrait, after the armistice the Air Ministry ‘decided to open world-wicle air routes, inaking Egypt. one of the most (Inlp<)r'talit air juncEions. The I-{:lii}<ll;eyl’-loge lsqu'.ldl‘ons were ordered to proceed thither. Barely 30 per CC11l3‘1'(‘{1("/ll(‘(l their des~tinations. At least 11 pilots \\'er.e killed. Colonel Henderson says it \\'-as-‘no fillllt of the men, and no inherent (lefeet in I'llelilaclliiles, but organisation was p'ra(‘.l'iec.l_ly non-e_\'i>:t.«en‘r. Conditions beyond Mai-;eeilles were sinjiply appalling. Two lmndretl and fifty mile; of

sen mlltv was ;|colnnmrcizlll_3' imln-lac: ticahlo. N 0 busines.~s firms woulJ‘:lttcmpt to 'collv.ey machines to Egypt by air. Colonel .l>londel'son saw Hamllv_\iPage wl'cckag<- between Mameillcs and Nice’. ]‘,ossv<>s in maclfinos alone tom]led £IIO,OOO. 111 some cases pilots were to blmne for not rcplacinlg x'ubl)ol' connectirms. and other defective parts. Th.el'o was also lack of expert mechanical assilstance en 1-‘onto. It should be ascertained w}*.-efller any of those machines were included mmmg those netoriously exposed to the woa.‘rller at Hondon aerodrome.