He was serving as Army Liaison Officer on the General Staff at the time of his death. Lieutenant - Colonel Francis Thornthwaite, D. S. O., M. C. Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock, R. A. Thornthwaite was identified by his personal belongings, White by his general's insignia, Street by a signet ring, and Gullett by his dentures; Fairbairn and Elford were identified by previous injuries. Minister of State for Air : Minister of State for Civil Aviation, General Sir Cyril Brudenell Bingham White, K. C. B., K. C. M. G., K. C. V. O., D. S. O. I went up there with Tim the Yowie man while I was researching my book. Each of them had a place not only in the Cabinet but in my heart". "Anthonie Tonnon Unveils Single 'Lockheed Bomber', National Archives of Australia Fact Sheet 142, National Archive of Australia search for Fairbairn Memorial, National Museum of Australia propeller blade exhibit, Transcript of interview on ABC Stateline Canberra, 22 June 2007, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1940_Canberra_air_disaster&oldid=1124291869, Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock, This page was last edited on 28 November 2022, at 06:06. The Air Disaster Memorial sits in the Fairbairn pine plantation on the eastern edge of Canberra. Thememorial itself embodied sadness, the inscription and the names discerned by the feeble light of my torch. At the far end a grey metal plaque has been erected on an aerodynamic lectern, its surface weathered by hard Canberra winters. Two friendly ghosts remain, and staff at the Mint believe they were once staff members themselves. [3] The aircraft had 7 hours and 10 minutes of flying time,[4] of which 2 hours and 35 minutes had been completed by Lockheed test pilots. [20], Being an RAAF flight, responsibility for the crash lay with the Department of Air rather than the Department of Civil Aviation and its Air Accident Investigation Committee. Love your home every day with quality products from Monaro Screens. While none of the men made it out of the plane alive, at least two of the bodies were found towards the back of the plane, in the aisle. Its been 75 years since a Lockheed Hudson bomber crashed into a hill between Canberra airport and Queanbeyan, killing 10 people. I could see the flames," recalls Mr Nott, a retired doctor. All ten people on board were killed: six passengers, including three members of the Australian Cabinet and the Chief of the General Staff; and four crew. Am I being followed? Not only was this crash a tragedy for all of the family and friends of the men killed, but it was also a tragedy for Australia; the prime minister had just lost some of his closest friends and allies. Tim makes a nocturnal trip to the memorial of Canberras worst air disaster alone. Can all these people be wrong? Whats that got to do with ghosts?? The three ministers killed were the Minister of state for the Army, the Minister of State for Air and the Vice President of the Executive Council. Visiting the site after dark is not for the feint hearted and there have been a ghost story or two associated with the site over the years. [Ed] And there the story ended as though the ghost had come to finish poor Panhead off. The Air Disaster Memorial is dedicated to the memory of those who died when an RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft crashed on this site on 13th August 1940. . Sarah Collins you will have to make a special trip to the north side so we can go!!! The dedication occurred on the twentieth anniversary of the crash. Anyone else have any stories? Personally, I think it's only a matter of handling your throttles wisely". No one saw what it was, but there was a 20 cent sized dent left on the bonnet, says Mr Evans who high tailed it out of the forest as fast as he could. Check out some of these well-known Canberra haunts. How Canberra could become a test case for high-speed rail, First Look: NoshersCBR - the Belconnen food van producing fantastic burgers, Minister vowed to double down on Robodebt even when told it was illegal, royal commission hears, Department of Finance executives encouraged conduct in alleged fraud conspiracy, barrister claims, Big agenda, big deal if the APS isn't at capacity, Getting loud about live music and the night-time economy. One week on, how many drivers have Canberra's new mobile phone detection cameras busted? Her parents conducted an exhaustive search and no real leads turned up. Where to eat, what to drink in the Canberra region. Affixed to the rock is a plaque dedicated to the dead. The concrete kerb around the monolith appears to have been replaced before this time. Up one last hill and I finally reach the memorial. Music: Thunderstorm - Hanu DixitLove what I do? Curious to see for yourself? [10] Prime Minister Robert Menzies' assistant private secretary Peter Looker had reserved two seats on the flight, but Menzies also preferred to take the train. [Jeff Brownrigg] Air Disaster Memorial Pialligo Avenue Majura ACT 2609 Mackellar was a general practitioner with limited experience in forensic medicine,[21] and faced difficulties in distinguishing between the victims' bodies which had been burned beyond recognition. Could the strange sightings and activity at the Canberra Disaster Memorial be connected to these two tragic events, or is it simply an urban legend. The weather was sunny and clear, and people had remarked earlier that morning that it was a perfect day for flying. New budget airline arrives, but will it drive down high airfares? A new book Meditations in Orange will be available through Pendragon Publishing & Design later this year. For many years, this monolith was the only memorial to a disaster which changed the course of the war for Australia, and was partially responsible for the fall of the Menzies government. Its an interesting place, quite eerie, but this is expected given its remote location, the history of the place, and the stories that circulate about it. A Narrabundah reader recently attempted his own nocturnal visit, and like me, left more than a little unnerved. Sorry guys, didnt actually mean to post this. 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However, during the inquest hearings rumors began circulating that the Air Minister, James Fairbairn was overheard saying that he was hoping to get a chance to fly the plane during this short trip. Canberra's best regional produce is just a click away. Most of these senior Commonwealth figures held posts related to Australia's defence. Thought you all maybe interested in this little video I made of the Air Disaster memorial in Canberra Australia. The site is hemmed in by the pine plantation and some of the native eucalyptus trees that still survive from the time of the accident. However it was not until Dame Annabelle Rankin wrote to the then Minister for Air, William McMahon, about the request by Sir Brundenell White`s relatives that a small cairn be erected at the point of the crash in memory of those who lost their lives, that the suggestion was given serious consideration. The Canberra Air Disaster on the 13th August 1940 killed 10 people, including three Federal Cabinet Ministers and distinguished World War I veterans. Kurrajong Hotel It was a disaster from which Menzies United Australia Party government never managed to recover. A coronial inquest was conducted by John Goodwin, the chairman of the Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council and the territory's acting coroner. A residual piece of energy that manifests itself as a ghostly nurse? All rights reserved. but according to some, there are other memories of the crash still around as well. If you stop your car within a certain distance from the guard, your car will stall. Surrounded by thick vegetation the memorial is simply a large rock sitting on a round bed of gravel. Nah! Its age-old hallways were once lined with hundreds of skulls and today it has at least three known spooks playing havoc in many of the darkened rooms and old cinema. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite, Staff Officer to General White. Blundell's Cottage is among the sites shrouded in mystery. A unique, three hour experience visiting sites of crimes, hauntings and murder in Australia's national capital. Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 was midair when it collided with a Cessna 172 aircraft, which is a private plane. This Friday is the 70th anniversary of Canberras worst air disaster when a Lockheed Hudson bomber plummeted into a hillside near Queanbeyan, burst into flames and killed all 10 people on board instantly. Rather than spooks emerging from the darkness, the only thing I need to be wary of are mountain bike riders hurtling at breakneck speed around corners. the-riotact.com | riotact.com.cn | regionriverina.com.au | aboutregional.com.au | b2bmagazine.com.au | thisiscanberra.com | mygungahlin.com.au. The memorial commemorates a plane crash that occurred in 1940 and killed 10 people, including 4 senior government figures. By day the walk seems harmless, just an uneventful stroll through an ordinary pine forest. Yep, you have to walk there as the gate is locked. The aircraft, a RAAF Lockheed Hudson II bomber, was flown by an experienced Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) officer, Flight Lieutenant Robert Hitchcock. A. F. Aircraftsman Class 1 Charles Joseph Crosdale, R. A. The Air Disaster Memorial has a dark history with vehicles, Ten key moments from 95 years of the Canberra Airport. The plane was not instantly disintegrated upon impact. The monolith was dedicated on 13 August 1960 in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Collaboratively and competitively delivered across the nation. General Sir Cyril White, Chief of the General Staff. As a general election was already due by the end of the year, it was felt prudent to call it for September, to avoid the necessity of also holding three by-elections for such a short term. I continue up the track and into a breeze which begins to wail a mournful tune through the thousands of pine needles and around the corner, my torch illuminates an ominous sign Do not touch anything. The Canberra Fire Brigade and ambulances from Canberra and Queanbeyan, across the border in New South Wales, as well as several Air Force tenders, arrived soon afterwards and fire extinguishers were played on the blazing wreckage. It would have been very easy to solve the mystery of whether or not Minister Fairbairn had been flying. Although a dedicated sceptic and staunch unbeliever in anything supernatural, I HAVE been to a few places where Id be reluctant to spend the night. As we have seen, ten people died in a horrific fiery crash on the very site. The area became known as a popular make-out spot before the road leading to the memorial was closed. This memorial cairn has been erected to honour the memory of, Brigadier the Honourable Geoffrey Austin Street, M. C., E. D. Love your home every day with quality products from Monaro Screens. Should new apartment blocks have car spaces for each occupant? . It was the first Hudson in the RAAF to be fitted out with passenger seating, to be reserved for transporting "essential maintenance stores and personnel to advanced operational bases", as well as ministerial traffic when required. He had been a special magistrate since 1930 and was "experienced in coronial duties". She is said to be wearing slightly outdated clothing, with long brown hair that is pulled up. Canberras annual Craft Beer & Cider Festival keeps coming back bigger and better, with 2023 being no exception. The Air Disaster Memorial on Mount Ainslie is another place reputed to be haunted. A pastoralist and accomplished aviator who served with the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, Fairbairn was elected to Federal Parliament in 1933 and became Minister for Civil Aviation and Vice-President of the Executive Council in 1939. Air Crash Investigations / MayDay. The loss of so many men vital to Australias war effort was a severe blow to the country. Sydney Airport to auction off lost laptops, phones, cameras and more. Pine forests are renowned for being biodiversity deserts and at night that is particularly the case. It couldnt be, could it? How Canberra could become a test case for high-speed rail, First Look: NoshersCBR - the Belconnen food van producing fantastic burgers, Minister vowed to double down on Robodebt even when told it was illegal, royal commission hears, Department of Finance executives encouraged conduct in alleged fraud conspiracy, barrister claims, Big agenda, big deal if the APS isn't at capacity, Getting loud about live music and the night-time economy. Months passed with no sign of Keren. When I first began researching these legends, I figured that the location probably wasnt haunted, but the more information I uncovered, the more I started to question if maybe it was haunted after all. A True Ghost Storyby Bobette Bryan, 2016. Nurses honour one of their best with unique statue to be installed at War Memorial, Odd jobs: horror movies are real life for Canberra's paranormal investigators, Candid shot of college years going 'up in smoke' finalist in photography competition, Things to do in Canberra this week (22 - 28 April). Its said she means no harm so the only thing thats likely to scare you off is the nighttime security guard. victims of the car stalling and rolling forward experience. Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Air, Flight Lieutenant Robert Edward Hitchcock, RAAF Pilot, Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener, RAAF Co-pilot, Corporal John Frederick Palmer, RAAF Wireless Operator, Aircraftsman Class 1 Charles Joseph Crosdale, RAAF Flight Mechanic. Maybe thats why ghosts hate cars. Get free shore excursions, beverages and shipboard credit with Oceania Cruises, Get $1500 in bonus value on Fiji island escape, Get $450 in bonus value on Fraser Island holiday, See Vivid Sydney and get a $600 bonus on your stay. The Canberra Times was representative : "These losses to Australia come at an hour when least of all we can spare theservices of those who can lead and direct us through hours unparralled in their significance for the future welfare of this people. 2 by Australian aviation writer Macarthur Job (Aerospace Publications, Canberra 1992). I was looking for the original topics and then exited the editor but it still posted :S. Must have been one of the ghosts you were asking about. Have you had an experience at the Air Disaster Memorial? I quickly left, having proved my courage to myself. Having said this, was a nurse involved in the rescue attempt and the whole thing was so traumatic that somehow she left some emotional remnant of herself in the mountain? [1] Can all these people [who have seen ghosts] be wrong? Should new apartment blocks have car spaces for each occupant? If so, Id love to hear from you. I'd like to see the economic modelling thats been done. [30] Lachal's report went into more depth and consideration of technical detail, but reached the same conclusion, that the crash was "due to the aircraft stalling when approaching the aerodrome to land" and that "the accident was due to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot". National Film and Sound Archives I once did a big burnout there. A small white plaque not much bigger than a credit card attached to a dark green post guides you to the trail that you will follow to the memorial nestled far away in the trees. 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