The week has been saddened by another terrible flying disaster.
Lieutenants Hotchkiss and Bettington of the Army Air Corps, both expert airmen, while on their way from Salisbury to the manceuvres, were killed instantaneously by the collapse of their aeroplane during a descent near Wolver- cote. The jury in bringing in a verdict of accidental death stated that they were unable to specify the cause of the disaster. They added a rider expressing their appreciation of the bravery of the British officers engaged in aviation, and recommending a Government inquiry into every case of an aviation disaster. It may be difficult or impossible to apply this principle in its entirety, but that careful inquiry will be made by the War Office into such accidents as have occurred in the last few weeks may be taken for granted in view of the circular issued in yesterday's papers. Here we find it laid down in the clearest terms that the use of air- craft in war is indispensable.
Previous page
