Wau Aviation

Fatality.

Ray Parer Gives Eye-witness’s Account of Accident.

From Our Own Correspondent WAU, Jan. 17.

DETAILS of the flying fatality at Wau on December 26, when Pilot Drayton and Mr. L. H. Harper were killed, are to hand.

The ’plane, a Moth, had taken off from Wau on a flight to Bulwa aerodrome, when it was seen to roll at a height of about 300 feet. Pilot Drayton, on finish

ing this move, apparently attempted to

recover and opened the throttle. The en gine did not respond and the ’plane struck some trees and crashed.

We quote the evidence of Lieutenant

Ray Parer, who was an eye-witness:

“I am the qualified Chief Pilot of Pacific Aerial Transport, Ltd., and reside at Wau. Yes terday afternoon, a little after 4 o’clock, I was sitting on the verandah of the Hotel Bulolo, when I heard an aeroplane engine rev up, and I noticed it was Guinea Airways, Ltd., ‘Moth.’

I saw the machine leave the ground. It appeared to be climbing very slowly. When about 200 feet above the aerodrome, I saw the machine turn to the right and complete two right hand turns.

Finishing the end of the second turn, pointing south, the machine went into full roll. It came out of this rather low. The pilot then apparently attempted to recover, and opened his engine. The engine spluttered appreciably, and did not regain its full revs until it was too late to miss the trees.

“A moment before striking the trees the engine appeared to be picking up. I think if it had picked up immediately, the machine would have cleared the trees.

“The machine appeared to be responding well to its controls, just prior to the crash, for the turns seemed to me to be well executed. I actually saw the machine in its manoeuvres until it passed out of my line of vision and crashed into the trees down in Wau Creek. I heard the crash, and about half a minute after wards saw smoke rising from the locality. I rushed down to the hangar for a fire extinguisher, but found it had been already taken out. I then proceeded to the scene, and from the bank of the creek viewed the burning machine and the attempts at rescue which were being made by Europeans and natives.

“I saw Mr. Drayton about fifteen minutes before the fatal flight, and he appeared quite normal to me. I did not know at the time of the accident that he was the pilot of the ‘Moth.’

“I know the Guinea Airways, Ltd., ‘Moth’ well, though I have never flown in it. I have seen it landing and taking off on the different ’dromes on many occasions, and I am of the opinion that the take-off of that particular "Moth” was not as good as some of the other ‘Moths.’

“From where I stood on the Creek watching the burning ’plane, I noticed that the ’plane was on its back, pointing South.

“There is no question in my mind that the engine ceased to function in the middle of the roll. The engine seemed to be working well when the pilot opened up, taking off, but the ’plane did not appear to gain height as quickly as it should have done. When taking off, I noticed that the pilot made right hand turns; it is more usual for pilots to turn to the left instead of the right. That is how I came to remember that turns to the right were made in this instance.”

The gallantry of the first men on the scene of the crash deserves praise, as they made brave attempts to rescue pilot and passenger from the burning wreck age. Mr. J. A. Crockett, of the clerical staff of New Guinea Goldfields, Ltd., sustained severe burns to the hands; but his attempts at rescue were foiled by the blaze.

The fatality, the first of its kind at Wau, cast a gloom over the district and

much sympathy is felt for the young widow of Pilot Drayton and his infant son, particularly as they are eye-wit nesses of the disaster.

The late Frank Dray ton came to the Terri tory in 1927 with Cap tain Moody, Les Trist and F. Ward, of the Air Gold Co. He was born in Richmond, N.S.W. In 1931 he married Miss Bobbie Thompson, of Sydney. Their only child is Peter John, who is a year old.

The late L. H. Har per, the passenger, was employed by Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd., and had been in the Terri tory for two years. He came from Georgia, U.S.A., and was an only son. Being popular among his friends, he will be sadly missed.

After a short service conducted by Reverend Bradley, the remains of Frank Nelson Drayton were taken by Guinea Airways Junker ’plane to Lae for interment on December 27. A large cortege of his friends accompanied the coffin to the ’plane and there were many floral trib utes. The burial took place at Lae.

The remains of Lewis Heymes Harper were interred in the Wau Cemetery on December 27. The ceremony was conducted by Assistant District Officer H. L.

Dowling.

All that was left of Pilot Diayton's aeroplane acouple of hours after the crash at Wau, N.G., in which the air man and his passenger were killed.