Seaplane Crash Near

Rabaul.

Mrs. Graham Mirfield Killed.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Rabaul, Nov. 3.

THE air fatality which occurred not far from Kokopo on Sunday, noon, October 15th, was one of the worst air calamities in our history.

Pilot Duncan, in the newly arrived V, H. - UNY seaplane, brought up by the Rabaul Airways Syndicate, left Rabaul about 8.30 a.m. on the day of the accident: and arrived at Kabakaul, from whence he made several short flights.

About noon Mr. and Mrs. Mirfield (the latter the sister of Mr. Oscar Rondahl, of Kabakaul) entered the ’plane and, after gaining height out at sea, the ’plane travelled inland in the vicinity of Rainau plantation, and it was in this locality, it is alleged, an air-pocket was struck causing the ’plane to drop suddenly, landing on the top of a coconut, the undercarriage cutting the coconut top clean off.

In the crash that followed Mrs. Mirfield was killed and her husband seriously injured, while the pilot escaped with minor injuries.

Fearful of a conflagration Pilot Duncan, though dazed, managed to extricate the wounded man from the wreckage and made his way through native groves and gardens to Rainau, where he telephoned for medical assistance.

The remains of the seaplane are in a coconut grove in the Kokopo district, not far from the Bitapaka Road, and near the spot where the Germans dug trenches in 1914 when resisting the advance of the Australian troops who had landed at Kokopo. The machine is a complete wreck.

Graham Mirfield is still in a serious condition and is in the Namanula Hospital.

The funeral which was accorded the late Mrs. Mirfield (Brigette Schmidt) was one of the biggest ever witnessed in Rabaul. The remains were laid to rest in the Garden Cemetery, after touching tributes had been paid.

Photograph of the recently wrecked Genairco seaplane, which flew from Sydney to Rabaul, via Papua and Salamaua, and was to be used for pleasure jaunts and special charters by the residents of Rabaul. The pilot was Captain W.

J. Duncan, and the owners were the Rabaul Airways Syndicate. The photo, was taken as

it landed in Rabaul, near the old N.D.L. Wharf, which is no longer in use for overseas steamers.

In the distance can be seen s.s. "Antem,” which was loading copra for Europe. The seaplane crashed near Kokopo on October 15, a few hours after the above photograph was taken, and one passenger was killed.