Love your home every day with quality products from Monaro Screens. "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. One week on, how many drivers have Canberra's new mobile phone detection cameras busted? Blundells Cottage View, Emily Jayne I was about to tag you ! A kangaroo or two will cross your path, or a flock of choughs; their white wing-fans flashing against their black bodies. The Air Disaster Memorial on Mount Ainslie is another place reputed to be haunted.. Check out some of these well-known Canberra haunts. 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. Tritton had told White that he had been allowed access to the crash site itself, and the body of Fairbairn was still strapped into the pilot's seat. Its one of those situations where if the plane had crashed now, its highly likely all of these questions would have been answered. The 1940 Canberra air disaster was an aircraft crash that occurred near Canberra, the capital of Australia, on 13 August 1940, during World War II. So here I am, alone in a forest near midnight, with ghosts allegedly lurking in every shadow, a fox with mange stalking my every move and now Ive got live ammo to deal with. Thick cloud cover blocks out any light provided by the near new moon. The weather was sunny and clear, and people had remarked earlier that morning that it was a perfect day for flying. "For my three colleagues were my close and loyal friends. Courtesy National Archives of Australia As we commemorate Armistice Day we remember the WWII service and sacrifice of Strathfield Pilot Officer Richard Frederick Wiesener who died in 1940, aged 29. Here is his chilling account. 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. The 1940 Canberra air disaster was an aircraft crash that occurred near Canberra, the capital of Australia, on 13 August 1940, during World War II. Every direction appears devoid of life, just tall darkened tree trunks lined up like thousands of giant tombstones. Despite witness descriptions of the vehicle, the driver of the car was never identified. Another oddity about the inquest is the causes of death. 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. 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. in 1940, Australia still had not committed fully to Canberra as its National Capital. If you arent occasionally spooked, I reckon you have no imagination. It's the 80th anniversary of Canberra's worst air disaster. Two of the ministers were later followed into federal politics by their sons, Jo Gullett and Tony Street. When the fire department and police arrived on scene they thought that maybe there could be survivors so they sent for the local doctor, Dr. Lewis Nott. 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. History has shown us that ghosts and the supernatural are entirely imaginary. Affixed to the rock is a plaque dedicated to the dead. Have they simply misinterpreted what they have experienced? 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. The crash killed ten people, four of whom were senior members of the Australian Government. The stories behind the people and places that make Canberra what it is. [19] Goodwin was assisted by Thomas Mills, a representative of the Crown Solicitor's Office. Apart from allegedly making your car stall, she doesnt really seem to do much else at all. The Canberra Air Disaster On the morning of August 13, 1940, a Lockheed Hudson, registration number A16-97 was on the way to Canberra from Melbourne. 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. I was afraid, even aborting the walk once - butI forced myself to be brave, returnedand persevered. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Youre correct. Live it up, Lakeside.New spaces. As the myth goes, she has smashed windscreens to get into the car, simply to help those in there, believing them to be part of the Hudson crash. In the decades since, the crash. National Film and Sound Archives Police believe that Keren was killed elsewhere and then her body was dumped at the memorial site later. A few documented stories. The tragedy assumed the proportions of a national disaster in view of the loss of the chief administrators of Australia`s war effort. The road changes from ochre, to grey stone, and back again to ochre as you progress; a steady walk of a kilometre or so, up and down a couple of small hills. The Cabinet was permanently weakened by their loss, and that was a factor undermining Menzies's position in the following months. The Outcome MattersNext Level DentistryNext Level Outcomes, Trekked out there a few nights ago and were victims of the car stalling and rolling forward experience. At 8.47 a.m. he and three crew members left RAAF Laverton for Essendon Airport. He had been a special magistrate since 1930 and was "experienced in coronial duties". The coroners report was exactly the same for all men, only the names were changed. Your ultimate guide to dining, nightlife, entertainment, wineries, style and events in the capital. Its worth remembering the site isnt that far from the runways of Canberras airport. Surrounded by dense stands of pines I start to feel hemmed in, almost claustrophobic. 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. A visit to the Air Disaster Memorial, Canberra Australia. In some circles, the night time trip to the memorial is considered a rite of passage. It was a disaster from which Menzies United Australia Party government never managed to recover. A Narrabundah reader recently attempted his own nocturnal visit, and like me, left more than a little unnerved. By day the walk seems harmless, just an uneventful stroll through an ordinary pine forest. The plane was bringing the Ministers and high officials from Melbourne in 1940 for an important cabinet meeting when it nose dived into the hill and subsequently burst into flames. Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 was midair when it collided with a Cessna 172 aircraft, which is a private plane. The memorial commemorates a plane crash that occurred in 1940 and killed 10 people, including 4 senior government figures. But more seriously, does anyone know why the road to the memorial is locked up? However, unlike other legends, tied to a specific location, this location has seen more than one tragic event. The memorial is a large granite monolith with a bronze inscription with a dedication to the . Chief of the General Stafff. Ohh and is this near the paintball field? Is it private property or is there some other reason? A night at the Kurrajong may result in a terrific sleep or, if the late Ben Chifley is up to his usual antics, you may not sleep at all. My melancholic contemplation is broken by the noise of an aeroplane. Strangely, I am sure that I heard womens voices chattering and laughing in the distance as I stood in front of the memorial on a cold July night. Vice - President of the Executive Council, The Honourable James Valentine Fairbairn Music, festivals, charity events - everything thats happening in the Canberra region. Wilson used a process of elimination based on the victims' uniforms and positions within the plane. Live music. A private memorial service for the families of the victims of the 1996 TWA Flight 800 explosion is being held on Saturday, 25 years after the disaster that killed 230 people and just before the . Should new apartment blocks have car spaces for each occupant? The Air Disaster Memorial sits in the Fairbairn pine plantation on the eastern edge of Canberra. Are they deluded or deranged? Theres nothing unusual about a car stalling and then rolling forward. Some people get little orbs of light in their photos here which paranormal aficionados suggest is evidence of ghostly energy. At the far end a grey metal plaque has been erected on an aerodynamic lectern, its surface weathered by hard Canberra winters. News and analysis of APS, ACT public sector and diplomatic corp policy, politics and people. 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. . 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 Wales. Sydney Airport to auction off lost laptops, phones, cameras and more. I once did a big burnout there. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. 2 Squadron. footsteps, breaking twigs and people talking. My reduced state of anxiety doesnt last long. Your one-stop destination for the latest Capital region property and real estate news. Sarah Collins you will have to make a special trip to the north side so we can go!!! 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. Surrounded by thick vegetation the memorial is simply a large rock sitting on a round bed of gravel. I swing around, pine cone at the ready, to see the back end of a sick-looking fox as it scurries under the wreck of an abandoned car. White returned to the Army as Chief of the General Staff in 1940. Over time the costs of maintaining this website have risen substantially (in fact they are probably larger than those of many companies who exist for profit). Considering my car is an auto as well. Ooooh, spooky! The outcome of the inquest was that Hitchcock, who had over 100 hours of flying experience had fatally stalled the plane in perfect flying conditions. Richard Edwin Elford. 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. Deja not-so vu: plenty to surprise audiences at the 2023 French Film Festival, New multi-day walk set to take trekkers on a stunning South Coast journey, 'A great deal of hurt': Footage shows Thomas Matthews crashing car into three police officers. [5] A daily inspection was completed on the morning of the flight and signed off by the pilot Bob Hitchcock. If the supernatural were real, it would be natural. Stories of whispering voices and running footsteps, strange lights that fly towards the memorial, photos containing numerous orbs, ghostly sightings of men in old style overalls, screaming voices and even apparitions that appear to follow tour groups, yet quickly disappear when addressed or noticed. Isnt the Air Disaster Memorial inaccessible at the moment because you have to go through the paintball field to get to it? The stories behind the people and places that make Canberra what it is. James Fairbairn, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation. Hey guys Anthony hereI went out to the air disaster memorial in canberra and all was going good until I heard a strange noise coming from the bushes, I am no. The monolith was dedicated on 13 August 1960 in the . Updated 2/10/2020 - Both planes crashed in North Parka San Diego neighborhood. Why are holidays in Australia so expensive right now? Press alt + / to open this menu. This week we honored the victims of the 9/11 attack, the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. They dwell in gardens, darkened hallways and have been known to throw rooms into disarray. In the wake of the loss of three senior Cabinet ministers, Menzies was forced to reshuffle his ministry. He became Chief of the General Staff in 1920 and, in 1923, was appointed the first chairman of the Public Service Board. Canberrans, however, might not consider the number seven so lucky given their city is home to seven haunted sites. Later on when they had reached the top of the hill they saw her again sitting on the ground crying. They flash really quick but they also could've also been raindrops as it was spitting a bit. Staff Officer to Gen. White, Mr. Richard Edwin Elford Are they deluded or deranged? Up one last hill and I finally reach the memorial. A. F. Corporal John Frederick Palmer, R. A. Within moments of leaving the car park, and starting up the hill the noise below disappears, cut off by the trees and the loan moan of the wind. It would have been very easy to solve the mystery of whether or not Minister Fairbairn had been flying. Jump to. No orbs for me my cameras batteries have inexplicably drained (which apparently is not an uncommon occurrence here). 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. Blundell's Cottage is among the sites shrouded in mystery. Interest. Is it too soon to get excited about the 2023 Brumbies? All ten men in the aircraft - four crew and six passengers - lost their lives in the crash. This columns recent expose on the Air Disaster Memorial (ADM) has promoted a large amount of correspondence, particularly regarding on the sites spooky nature. After the war, a memorial cairn was erected at the site. According to Canberra local, Tim the Yowie Man, the War Memorial is regularly subjected to a good nighttime wrecking thanks to a resident poltergeist. Then I realise it must be a delayed flight coming in to land (thankfully) safely at Canberra Airport. Anyone else have any stories? On the twenty-year anniversary of the crash, a monument was erected at the site by the previous Prime Minister, Robert Menzies. Of course, there is only one way to find out. Most are convinced its the ghost of 16-year-old Florrie Blundell who died in 1892 from terrible burns. Sporting news from the ACT and Capital region. A unique, three hour experience visiting sites of crimes, hauntings and murder in Australia's national capital. 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. I believe that ghosts are usually some type of energy imprint thats left behind. Ive never experienced. And yet, there are still cases that defy explanation. I went up there with Tim the Yowie man while I was researching my book. All rights reserved. This is from an early draft as I dont have the final. Hey, would you be willing to share your experience for an article I am writing? Expert strata, facilitiesand building management services. On the evening of February 26, 1971, a 20-year-old woman named Keren Rowland went missing. Some commentators used this issue to demand, once again, that all Commonwealth Administration occur at one Seat of Government. Used this issue to demand, once again, that all Commonwealth Administration at. The Army as Chief of the Crown Solicitor 's Office the inquest is causes. Assumed the proportions of a national Disaster in View of the loss of three senior ministers! 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