IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1916, Page 3

IN THE AIR.

GUSTAV HAMEL. SLANDERING A 'FAMOUS AIRMAN'S MEMORY. The following letter from Messrs Oliver Richards and Parker, solicitors, oi King street, St. .Tames', has been appearing in several of the London newspapers:— The persistent rumors that the late Mr. Gustav llamel is alive and Hying for the Germans is giving great pain to his family and to his many friends. Unfortunately the first part of the rumor is untrue: the second is an insult to the memory of one who lias done so much for the advancement of aviation in England. Mr t llamel left Tlardelot on May 2:), 1914, to fly in England, and was novel seen alive again. His body was found in the sea by the skipper of the French fishing smack St. Helene, one Joseph Le Pretre, on July 1, IAI4, about ten miles off Point Alprerht. It was identified by the description of the clothing, and certain contents of the pocket described bl a French mechanic, Alexis Long-net, who assisted him when he left Hardelot, and by the inflated india-rubber bicycle tube round the body which Mr. Morane, the eminent airplan designer, induced iiim to wear when he left Paris the same morning. There can be no shadow of doubt as to the identification of the body. On the evidence of Le, Pretre and longuet the Court has granted leave to presume his death, and letters of administration to his estate have been taken out. Mr. Hamel came of a Danish familv. He was -brought up in England and was educated at Westminster fvhool. Ilia father. Dr. Gnslnv Hamel, M.V.0., who came to England many years ago, is a British subject. He was born in Hamburg. til-Mi a free and independent town. Early in life lie went to Sweden and later continued his education in Switzerland. where he took his medical degrees. He requalificd in England (St. Bartholomew's Hospital) and holds no German degrees or qualifications whatever. could he more repugnant- to the family, of the late Mr. Gustav llamel than the reports that lie is now enrolled in the German Flving Corns. M'lv we : ask von. as solicitors to Ihc family, to [ publish this letter and pnf an (Mid one.' and for all to baseless rumors?