AUSTRALIA BY AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIA BY AIR

ANOTHER MACHINE READY, THE BLACKBURN "KANGAROO.* By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 21, 7.40 p.m. London, Nov. 18. The Blackburn aeroplane "Kangaroo" flew from Brough Aerodrome, near Hull, and arrived at Hounalow in 2h hours in readiness to start for Australia on Thursday. Lieutenant V. Bendle, who piloted the aeroplane, considers the test thoroughly satisfactory. Lieut. Bendle is the son of a Brisbane doctor. He served as a pilot in the Flying Corps in Prance. Captain Wilkins, ,who commands and navigates, was awarded the Military Cross with a bar for daring work as the Australian official photographer. He was a correspondent with the Turkish Army in the last Balkan War, and second in. command in Stefanson's Arctic Expedition. Captain Wilkins intends to go to the Antarctic with Cope's Expedition in 1920. Lieutenant D. R. Williams, formerly an Instructor at the Richmond Flying School, goes as second pilot, and Lieutenant G, H. Potts, whose father is principal at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, goes as mechanic. He was formerly a member of the third Australian flying squadron.

The "Kangaroos" during the war were developed for long range bombing, and also did good service on the East Coast, patrolling for submarines. The machinee were later used for the carriage of mails They are fitted with twin Rolls-Royce Falcon engines. Captain Wilkins is dispensing with wireless, owing to the weight. The route will be across France, Rome, Malta, the African Coast, Ramleh, Karachi, Calcutta, Singapore, Darwin, Brisbaae, Sydney, and Melbourne. fhe machine is armed almost like a war machine, all the crew carrying rifles. . Aus.-NZ. Cable Assn.

CAPTAIN DOUGLAS' FUNERAL. DEMAND FOR AN INQUIRY. London, Nov. IS. A large party attended the funeral of Captain Douglas and Lieutenant ißosa at Brookwood. The mourners included Miis Woolley, the fiancee of Captain Douglas, and many personal friends of tne airmen. Australian .officers acted, as paP.-betrera Interviewed regarding tha accident, Mlas Woolley said.she was thoroughly dissatisfied with the conduct of the inquest. She was present at Acton on October 30 when the machine made a bad landing and Captain Douglas escaped with a slight injury to his hand. After that she saw Captain Douglas daily until the evening before his departure. He often seemed uneasv, whereas prior to October 30 he was full of confidence and regarded the machine and engine as perfect, and considered it the best he had ever flown. He watched subsequent repairs anxiously. These lasted until the eve of his departure. Captain Douglas felt he must get away as he feared people were jeering at his long delay. Miss Woolley fears that, owing to this, he may have departed against his better iudament, although he never voiced his doubts with reference to the machine. Miss Woolley state? that she is determined to press her request to the Air Ministry for an inquiry whether the test was adequate. She feels sure Captain Douglas would have flown higher if he could. -He always favored high Hying.— Aus.-N.Z. CaoTeAsen. INQUIRY TO BE HELD. . London. Nov. IS. It is understood that Miss Woolley will be afforded an opportunity of appearing before the Air Ministry" Investigation Committee, sitting in private. _ The authorities are reluctant to anticipate the result, but the Australian Press understands that'they do not attach much importance to the suggestion that there were not sufficient tests made. The evidence on this point will probably satisfy Miss Woolley. It is pointed out that the machine underwent a thorough, independent examination bv officials who granted an air-worthiness certificate prior to the departure of Lieutenant Ross and Captain Douglas, and experts agree with Mr. Peters that the machine probably developed a spin in the clouds and failed to right itself •Wing to the low altitude.