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 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. The aircraft, a RAAF Lockheed Hudson II bomber, was flown by an experienced Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) officer, Flight Lieutenant Robert Hitchcock. 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. General Sir Cyril White, Chief of the General Staff. I stumble on a pine cone. Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? "[13], The plane came down in a paddock on "Dundee", a grazing property of 888 acres (359ha) owned by Duncan Cameron.[14]. Just wondering. According to, Last edited on 28 November 2022, at 06:06, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Australian Capital Territory Advisory Council, Air Disaster Canberra: the plane crash that destroyed a government, "Lockheed Hudson Mark II Serial Number A16-97", The 1940 Canberra air disaster that changed history and the unanswered questions that remain. Hey, would you be willing to share your experience for an article I am writing? 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. The area surrounding the memorial is quiet and even in the day one gets the feeling of being watched. 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. Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Of course, there is only one way to find out. "Yesterdays" columnist NICHOLE OVERALL looks at the mystery surrounding the crash. Collaboratively and competitively delivered across the nation. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. It disappeared behind a low tree-dotted hill. Friends and family have stated that Keren almost always wore her hair down, but on the night that she disappeared she was wearing her hair up. [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". At some point we all became aware of occasional noises coming from scrub it was the sound of someone walking through the bush i.e. Private Secretary to the Minister for Air. Here is his chilling account. 2 Squadron. You pass the edge of the Defence firing range, its large white signs on high wire fences warning of the dire consequences of trespass. When the fanatical Christians are up there its spooky. Rolling Hills Asylum is one of the creepiest places in New York. At the far end a grey metal plaque has been erected on an aerodynamic lectern, its surface weathered by hard Canberra winters. Weve put together a bunch of haunted places in Canberra so you can either freak your friends out, or you simply never go there, ever! On the evening of February 26, 1971, a 20-year-old woman named Keren Rowland went missing. Horror plane crash that destroyed a government The accident site of the crash. 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. Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 was midair when it collided with a Cessna 172 aircraft, which is a private plane. 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. Its said she means no harm so the only thing thats likely to scare you off is the nighttime security guard. Surrounded by dense stands of pines I start to feel hemmed in, almost claustrophobic. Should new apartment blocks have car spaces for each occupant? Nah! Inexplicably, just as Mr Evans and his friends jumped into the relative safety of their car, something hit the bonnet.. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall. I have heard first, second, third and fourth hand stories of cars losing power and failing to start, lights fading, whispered voices, and most oddly, cars rolling uphill of their own accord. A journalist until his enlistment in 1916, Gullett became Australia's official war correspondent for the AIF in Palestine in 1918. In the wake of the loss of three senior Cabinet ministers, Menzies was forced to reshuffle his ministry. It was not clear where the sound was coming from; if we were quiet and tried to listen the noises would stop. Ive never experienced. Interest. 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. My heartbeat races. Sounds creepy, maybe we should camp there a night. In 1953, the RAAF base at Canberra was renamed Fairbairn Airbase in Fairbairn's honour. Police believe that Keren was killed elsewhere and then her body was dumped at the memorial site later. While Fairbairn was himself an accomplished pilot, he had not had any flight training on the Hudson which was known to be difficult to fly and stalled easily. Soon stories Ive heard begin to race through my head like the teenager who left the forest screaming claiming she was being followed by images of an airman on fire and the young man who just a month ago confided in me that he had seen a ghost-like figure dart across the road in front of him. New budget airline arrives, but will it drive down high airfares? 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. Be one of the first to see the highly anticipated horror fi Enlighten Festival illuminates with after-dark events, Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival will see distilleries added to this years lineup, Mona Farm is hosting a garden-inspired Sunday lunch on the estate, New house-made burger joint opens in Dickson. Unfortunately, the torch I had was a feeble, wind-up model and cast little light. For many years now, the crash site has sparked tales of distressing apparitions. Two friendly ghosts remain, and staff at the Mint believe they were once staff members themselves. He became Chief of the General Staff in 1920 and, in 1923, was appointed the first chairman of the Public Service Board. Subscribe to receive the latest local voices straight to your inbox. . The dedication occurred on the twentieth anniversary of the crash. Maybe thats why ghosts hate cars. [Jeff Brownrigg] Air Disaster Memorial Pialligo Avenue Majura ACT 2609 I believe that ghosts are usually some type of energy imprint thats left behind. The latest news as it happens from Canberra and the surrounding region. Its been 75 years since a Lockheed Hudson bomber crashed into a hill between Canberra airport and Queanbeyan, killing 10 people. Air Cdre Charles Clarke crash memorial.jpg 1,360 1,020; 366 KB B-HRX accident monument.JPG 2,048 1,536; 520 KB B24 Bomber crash memorial - geograph.org.uk - 159929.jpg 640 480; 95 KB Wanting to stay overnight in Melbourne to celebrate his first wedding anniversary, he traded places with Arthur Fadden, who instead took the overnight train.[15]. There are HEAPS of live music events, large View. 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. Mackellar had attested that it would be "fairly safe to assume that all ten men were killed when the plane hit the ground". The deaths of the three cabinet ministers severely weakened the United Australia Party government of Robert Menzies and contributed to its fall in 1941. [29] The Air Board separately constituted a three-person Service Court of Inquiry led by Wing Commander Leon Lachal and assisted by Squadron Leader Frederick Stevens and Pilot Officer George Pape. One week on, how many drivers have Canberra's new mobile phone detection cameras busted? People that were in the area reported seeing unearthly lights that would flash in an old dirt parking lot next to the memorial. Hear tales of: The Canberra funeral parlour that was once a hot bed of espionage activity. Inquiry into air disaster at Canberra 1940 A461, AN314/1/1 Air tragedy at Canberra - General representations 1940 A461 . [7] It had been called partially in response to a telegram from Winston Churchill to Menzies outlining his views on the prospect of war with Japan. 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Build in 1833, its Canberras oldest building and home to the citys most famous ghost Sophia Susanna Campbell. Thick cloud cover blocks out any light provided by the near new moon. [5] A daily inspection was completed on the morning of the flight and signed off by the pilot Bob Hitchcock. In many cases, yes. Even during the day the area around the memorial is spooky. 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. Anyone else have any stories? Air Disaster Memorial [Ghost Strikes Again] 30 September 2009 | Panhead Join the conversation 16 Trekked out there a few nights ago and were victims of the car stalling and rolling forward experience. 1940 A461, 700/1/391 Air accident involving deaths of Commonwealth Ministers and others. Apart from allegedly making your car stall, she doesnt really seem to do much else at all. The latest news as it happens from Canberra and the surrounding region. [24], Based on Mackellar's evidence, Goodwin concluded "I am of the opinion that the men were killed before the plane was burnt". Collaboratively and competitively delivered across the nation. Menzies was deeply affected by the crash, both personally and politically. I'd like to see the economic modelling thats been done. History has shown us that ghosts and the supernatural seem to be commonplace and that a large percentage of people in the western world, indeed from all races and religions, not only believe in ghosts but have also experienced something that they believe is of a supernatural origin. I find it odd that every man wouldve died from a skull fracture. The road deteriorates into a series of muddy puddles and within a few paces, the traffic noise of Fairbairn Avenue gives way to silence. Subscribe to receive the latest local voices straight to your inbox. Blundell's Cottage is among the sites shrouded in mystery. Kerens father told police that she had just been through a broken engagement and was approximately 5 months pregnant. The weather was sunny and clear, and people had remarked earlier that morning that it was a perfect day for flying. This columns recent expose on the Air Disaster Memorial (ADM) has promoted a large amount of correspondence, particularly regarding on the sites spooky nature. The Canberra Air Disaster, 1940 The wreckage of the Lockheed Hudson air crash, Canberra, 13 August 1940. Its something Id been dared to do for a long time. Once a morgue, the National Film and Sound Archives is heaving with paranormal activity. I soon reach another locked gate. Elford, who had a good knowledge of aeronautics, was Fairbairn's private secretary. Sections of this page. 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. 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