This columns recent expose on the Air Disaster Memorial (ADM) has promoted a large amount of correspondence, particularly regarding on the sites spooky nature. In April 2022 the New Zealand artist Anthonie Tonnon released a single entitled Lockheed Bomber based on the disaster. RAAF emergency crews were on the scene within minutes but the force of the crash was considerable and all were presumed killed instantly. Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. The plane was not instantly disintegrated upon impact. 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. Air Crash Investigations / MayDay. The site itself is not particularly impressive unless you stop to contemplate the magnitude of what happened here 77 years ago and its effect on our nation in a time of war. 2 by Australian aviation writer Macarthur Job (Aerospace Publications, Canberra 1992). Have they simply misinterpreted what they have experienced? Its worth remembering the site isnt that far from the runways of Canberras airport. 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. Some of our group also swear they saw a person on the track leading up to the memorial. On 13th August 1940, three Commonwealth ministers, the Chief of General Staff, two of their staff and four crew members flew in a RAAF Lockheed Houston aeroplane from Melbourne to Canberra to attend a Cabinet meeting. Most are convinced its the ghost of 16-year-old Florrie Blundell who died in 1892 from terrible burns. Hey, would you be willing to share your experience for an article I am writing? Have they simply misinterpreted what they have experienced? "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. Its just past 11pm and as I carefully clamber over the first gate it immediately feels like Ive entered another realm. Inquiry into air disaster at Canberra 1940 A461, AN314/1/1 Air tragedy at Canberra - General representations 1940 A461 . 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. Canberra's best regional produce is just a click away. [24], Based on Mackellar's evidence, Goodwin concluded "I am of the opinion that the men were killed before the plane was burnt". But it is. > Yep, you have to walk there as the gate is locked. Its something Id been dared to do for a long time. Yep, you have to walk there as the gate is locked. privacy policy. Expert strata, facilitiesand building management services. . Rhetorical question. The area surrounding the memorial is quiet and even in the day one gets the feeling of being watched. All rights reserved. This 3km loop through the Fairbairn Pine plantation outside of Canberra is a nice trip through dense pine forest with a unique stop along the way at the Air Disaster Memorial. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite, Staff Officer to General White. Two friendly ghosts remain, and staff at the Mint believe they were once staff members themselves. Months passed with no sign of Keren. "For my three colleagues were my close and loyal friends. I once did a big burnout there. Pine forests are renowned for being biodiversity deserts and at night that is particularly the case. While preparing to land from what had been a normal flight, the plane suddenly nosedived into a field just a mile and a half from the Canberra Aerodrome. Theres nothing unusual about a car stalling and then rolling forward. 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. Theres the teenager who left the surrounding forest screaming that she was being followed by an airman on fire and many folk have heard dull explosions and the noise of a crashing plane. Kurrajong Hotel Did one of the bodies found in the cockpit have a disfigured right arm? Considering my car is an auto as well. There were also four Royal Australian Air Force crew on board the Hudson Bomber. Funeral and memorial services 1940-41 A461, 700/1/392 War Cabinet Secretariat Title or description of record Date range Series . On the 13th August 1940, a Lockheed Hudson II Bomber crashed at Mount Ainslie in the Australian Capital Territory just outside of Queanbeyan in New South Wal. If you are not familiar with the area, call Canberra Connect for directions or more information on the walk: 13 22 81. One of those promoted in the reshuffle was Harold Holt, recalled from Army service and thus gaining a promotion that eventually led to the Prime Ministership. The memorial commemorates a plane crash that occurred in 1940 and killed 10 people, including 4 senior government figures. I quicken my pace to a sort of panicked shuffle you know that movement halfway between a walk and a run that you instinctively break into when youre worried someone is following you. Affixed to the rock is a plaque dedicated to the dead. A. F. Mr. Richard Edwin Elford There are seven seas, seven wonders of the world, seven colours in the rainbow, seven dwarves and the worlds favourite number apparently, seven. Where to eat, what to drink in the Canberra region. The coroners report was exactly the same for all men, only the names were changed. It was a disaster from which Menzies United Australia Party government never managed to recover. 1940 A461, 700/1/391 Air accident involving deaths of Commonwealth Ministers and others. The monolith was dedicated on 13 August 1960 in the . Suggestion is a major reason for individuals experiencing occurances. Chief of the General Stafff, Lieutenant - Colonel Francis Thornthwaite, DSO, MC By submitting your email you are agreeing to Nine Publishing's 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. View, Opportunities to acquire skills and improve their chances of successful reintegration into the View, Major events are generally infrequent, scheduled, well managed with a defined finish time and View, We have lots of major events (music and otherwise) that attract interstate visitors and bring in View, And just a little hint for those who might not be aware. Then I realise it must be a delayed flight coming in to land (thankfully) safely at Canberra Airport. The splat of the paintball guns and the hollers of the revellers seem distinctly out-of-place. I was afraid, but it was a fear unrelated to the crash - I imagined that something awful and malevolent lurked here - but it was not the spirits of the victims. Richard Edwin Elford. Whether you are a history buff, a nature lover, or an exercise junky, the trek to the memorial is one to add to your bucket list. I have wanted to visit the memorial for a number of years as it is the site of a tragedy that became a turning point in Australias political and military history. Staff Officer to Gen. White, Mr. Richard Edwin Elford Menzies was deeply affected by the crash, both personally and politically. Just great! On the approach to the RAAF airbase at Fairbairn, it lost altitude and crashed through the eucalypt trees into the top of the hill. Finally, on May 13th, 1971, the skeletal remains of Keren Rowland were found at the Canberra Disaster Memorial by a hiker. On board were 6 government officials and 4 crew members who all perished in the crash.It is alleged that the crash site is one of Canberra's most haunted sites so of course I had to go and check it out.Airmen on fire have been sighted.Ghostly figures have been also been seen darting across the pathways, disembodied footsteps and even the sound of a phantom plane crash have all been witnessed.What I wasn't prepared for was the epic hike to get to it.. so I sucked it up and took my time.Was it sabotage?Or was it an accident?Who knows.You can see some light anomolies captured after the 16 minute mark, after the spirit box session. Sydney Airport to auction off lost laptops, phones, cameras and more. The national memorial service held in Melbourne was regarded as the most emotional funeral in the young nation`s history. Have you had an experience at the Air Disaster Memorial? [32], On 12 August 2020, the day before the 80th anniversary of the crash, Michael Wooldridge, a former Minister of the Australian Government, wrote a revelatory story in The Australian. terms and conditions The stories behind the people and places that make Canberra what it is. Visit the darker side of Canberra's past. [12], The Perth Daily News reported: "The plane was seen by watchers at the Canberra Aerodrome and the Air Force station to circle the drome, and then rise and head south. If Monument Australia is useful to you, please make a donation to keep this historical and educational resource available. Local Business. The traffic island footprint was intended to be evocative of an aircraft wing. 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. I could see the flames," recalls Mr Nott, a retired doctor. Expanded menu. Live music. Not in the mood for taking risks, I carefully place the cone on the ground. Her parents conducted an exhaustive search and no real leads turned up. [Jeff Brownrigg] Air Disaster Memorial Pialligo Avenue Majura ACT 2609 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. . instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser, Eight destinations that films and TV shows changed forever, From borders to tunnels, here are 10 of the world's astonishingly long things. Despite not only landing the plane just a short time earlier and also landing a Hudson in very similar conditions in Canberra previously. Meanwhile Simon Evans of Isabella Plains claims he experienced phantom footsteps while recently being dared to visit the haunted site with a couple of friends. Witnesses reported seeing a dark car near Kerens car on the night in question and said a woman fitting Kerens description was walking towards the car. At the election, Fairbairn's seat of Flinders and Street's seat of Corangamite were retained by the UAP, but Gullett's seat of Henty was lost to an independent, Arthur Coles, who was one of the two independents who voted to bring down the government in 1941 (then headed by the Country Party leader Arthur Fadden), allowing John Curtin of the Australian Labor Party to become Prime Minister. The attacks killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 others and . Loving their jobs, theyve refused to move on and linger around to lend a helping hand. They got out of the car and she disappeared. It's located in the country, in East Bethany, NY (near Rochester and Buffalo) and there are said to have been 17,000 people buried with unmarked graves. I dont think I've View, Great work, looking forward to seeing the progress. Thick cloud cover blocks out any light provided by the near new moon. "Yesterdays" columnist NICHOLE OVERALL looks at the mystery surrounding the crash. Air Disaster Memorial The latter I can totally dismiss as an urban legend most probably started by someone who, whilst drunk, forgot to put their car in gear and pull the hand brake on, only to watch it roll away backwards at a later time. One other issue raised in the aftermath of the crash concerned the almost impossible travel itinerary imposed on Government Ministers at that time, a burden which had them regularly travelling between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 was midair when it collided with a Cessna 172 aircraft, which is a private plane. James Fairbairn had served in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and still enjoyed flying. Collaboratively and competitively delivered across the nation. He became Chief of the General Staff in 1920 and, in 1923, was appointed the first chairman of the Public Service Board. Minister of State for Air - Minister of State for Civil Aviation, The Hon Sir Henry Somer Gullett, KCMG, The aircraft, a RAAF Lockheed Hudson II bomber, was flown by an experienced Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) officer, Flight Lieutenant Robert Hitchcock. Yes, there are. Is it too soon to get excited about the 2023 Brumbies? [1] The fatalities included several members of Robert Menzies' ministry who were flying to Canberra for an important war cabinet meeting. 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? Tim makes a nocturnal trip to the memorial of Canberras worst air disaster alone. My friend told me about 10 years ago, him and his mates went up there and saw a young girl near the gate. Elford, who had a good knowledge of aeronautics, was Fairbairn's private secretary. Love your home every day with quality products from Monaro Screens. I'd like to see the economic modelling thats been done. But why leave her body at a location that people visit? Nah! But more seriously, does anyone know why the road to the memorial is locked up? Unlike most other places, this location has more than one legend attached to it. He was elected to Parliament in 1925, becoming Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 1929 to 1930, Minister for Trade and Customs from 1928 to 1929 and 1932 to 1933, Minister without portfolio from 1934 to 1937, Minister for External Affairs and Information from 1939 to 1940, and was appointed vice-president of the Executive Council in March 1940. Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. A new book Meditations in Orange will be available through Pendragon Publishing & Design later this year. Yep we have spooks from all walks of death, some born from suspicious circumstances, terrible endings and others that have simply refused to move on. [9] Two other ministers, George McLeay and Arthur Fadden, were also invited, but declined seats as they had already arranged to take the train. Some of our group also swear they saw a person on the track leading up to the memorial. Cockpit For All Aircraft. Each of them had a place not only in the Cabinet but in my heart". It was a completely airworthy plane in the hands of a competent pilot. Is it time Australia looked beyond Defence for disaster response? victims of the car stalling and rolling forward experience. R. G. Menzies, who had also been Prime Minister at the time of the accident. One of the odd things about this crash was that for a lot of people, the inquiry into the accident left more questions rather than answers. The plane immediately burst into flames and while it only took rescuers a couple of minutes to arrive, all ten passengers and crew were beyond hope of rescue. Affixed to the rock is a plaque dedicated to the dead. At the far end a grey metal plaque has been erected on an aerodynamic lectern, its surface weathered by hard Canberra winters. View, Mookie Moo we will have flying trains by then View, Lets hope for a progressive Gov in NSW in March that would see the political angle removed with View, Justin Watson yes perhaps. Her car was found the following day on the side of Parkes Way road with no gas. Like most legends, this legend has various versions, but the most common one is: If you stop your car on the cattle guard, a nurse who was on the scene at the time of the crash helping the wounded will run towards your car and try to get in. This 5.5km loop through the Fairbairn Pine plantation outside of Canberra is a nice trip through dense pine forest with a unique stop along the way at the Air Disaster Memorial. Inexplicably, just as Mr Evans and his friends jumped into the relative safety of their car, something hit the bonnet.. The crash took place at 10:15a.m. in fine weather, in what the Melbourne Herald called "ideal flying conditions". And yet, if it is a spooky place during the day, and moreso at night, then why? Sorry guys, didnt actually mean to post this. Crash claims 10 lives The type of plane involved in the crash, a Lockheed Hudson bomber (Supplied: Gavin Conroy) "I could see the smoke coming over the hill. Some people get little orbs of light in their photos here which paranormal aficionados suggest is evidence of ghostly energy. Live it up, Lakeside.New spaces. Subscribe to receive the latest local voices straight to your inbox. Feel free to shout me a beer!https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/gHOSTbITCHESSome links if yr interested in reading more about ithttps://www.thedeadhistory.com/the-burning-airman-canberra-australia/https://www.nca.gov.au/air-disaster-memorialhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1940_Canberra_air_disaster A journalist until his enlistment in 1916, Gullett became Australia's official war correspondent for the AIF in Palestine in 1918. On 9 August, the station administrative officer at RAAF Laverton received instructions to prepare a flight to Canberra on 13 August, to be reserved for James Fairbairn, the air and civil aviation minister. Jump to. It was received by the No. [31], The conclusion of the Murphy and Lachal reports was immediately disputed by the RAAF's Director of Training George Jones, who stated "I cannot believe that a pilot of Hitchcock's experience would stall the aircraft under the circumstances which apparently existed". It is quiet and still, in fact, so much so that one imagines that they can hear sounds, even in the light of day. Air Disaster Memorial in Canberra Air Disaster Memorial The Air Disaster Memorial lies at the site of the tragic crash in August 1940 which took the lives of ten men, including General Sir Cyril Brudenell White and three Federal Ministers. [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. Mackellar had attested that it would be "fairly safe to assume that all ten men were killed when the plane hit the ground". 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