Rabaul.
p. 44 · Read in the full issue
Fatal Crash Near
Aviation Co.’s Bad Start.
AFTER all his trouble in taking his Genairco seaplane to Rabaul, New Guinea, with a view to establishing a regular aerial service out of that port, Captain W. J. Duncan crashed soon after his arrival, wrecking his machine and killing one of his passengers.
On Sunday afternoon, October 15, Captain Duncan was flying in the vicinity of Kokopo (on Blanche Bay, opposite to Rabaul) with two passen gers, Mr. and Mrs. Graham Mirfield.
The seaplane crashed near Kokopo, and Mrs. Mirfield was killed instantly, Mr.
Mirfield was seriously injured, and Captain Duncan was slightly hurt.
Mrs. Mirfield was formerly Miss Betty Schmidt, and was connected with the well-known Rondahl family. She was popular in Rabaul.
Captain Duncan left Sydney on August 12 to fly in his machine to Rabaul; but was held up for some weeks in Huon Gulf (North-east New Guinea) owing to mechanical diffi culties.