They were either young and in their prime, or in positions of great power. Youre correct. 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. Its one of those situations where if the plane had crashed now, its highly likely all of these questions would have been answered. The stories behind the people and places that make Canberra what it is. 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. But more seriously, does anyone know why the road to the memorial is locked up? Affixed to the rock is a plaque dedicated to the dead. On the morning of August 13, 1940, a Lockheed Hudson, registration number A16-97 was on the way to Canberra from Melbourne. Subscribe to receive the latest local voices straight to your inbox. On the approach to the RAAF airbase at Fairbairn, it lost altitude and crashed through the eucalypt trees into the top of the hill. 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. It has always been suspected that he may have persuaded the RAAF crew to allow him to fly the plane into Canberra. Theyre always anonymously shared in the vaguest of terms. Wikipedia entry, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), National Archives of Australia fact sheet 142, ABC News 75th anniversary of the disaster. Despite her pregnancy having been confirmed in November 1970 by her physician, there was no evidence of a fetus when her body was found. With nothing more to gain, I jog back to Fairbairn Avenue, careful to dodge every pine cone along the way. 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. Speculation arose that it was during this time that Minister Fairbairn changed seats with the co-pilot, Richard Wisener. News and analysis of APS, ACT public sector and diplomatic corp policy, politics and people. [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". ABC News 75th anniversary of the disaster Fairbairn's private secretary Dick Elford and White's staff officer Frank Thornthwaite were the two other passengers. Along with the Chief of the General Staff, General White, we lost four of our top Military experts in one terrible accident. 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. 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. Your one-stop destination for the latest Capital region property and real estate news. To this day, almost 50 years later, there have been no arrests in the murder of Keren Rowland, and her death remains unsolved. You pass the edge of the Defence firing range, its large white signs on high wire fences warning of the dire consequences of trespass. 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. Pilot of doomed RAAF bomber can finally be revealed - The biggest cover-up in Australian political history is finally revealed. But could this possibly be more than just a legend? It was a completely airworthy plane in the hands of a competent pilot. "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. Expert strata, facilitiesand building management services. 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. Staff and visitor claim, to this day, that Chifleys ghost appears as the grey suited man pointing towards Old Parliament House. Who she is, or was no-one seems to know although she is in no way attached to disaster of the crashed Hudson bomber. A granite monolith marks the site of the crash. 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. google street. They never made it. Sporting news from the ACT and Capital region. The Court of Inquiry into the accident found that it was most likely from the aircraft stalling on its landing approach, resulting in loss of control at a height too low to recover. Are they deluded or deranged? Vice - President of the Executive Council, The Honourable James Valentine Fairbairn Brigadier Geoffrey Street, Minister for the Army and Repatriation. It replaced an earlier traffic island. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall. 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. The attacks killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 others and . New budget airline arrives, but will it drive down high airfares? [6], Fairbairn had been working at his departmental headquarters in Melbourne and requested the flight in order to attend an important cabinet meeting on defence policy, which would discuss the allocation of Australian resources in the war. The embarrassment alone, if not the alcohol, would be enough for anyone to come up with some sort of supernatural excuse for their stupidity. The pines guard their secrets dearly. > Yep, you have to walk there as the gate is locked. 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. 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. Whats that got to do with ghosts?? in 1940, Australia still had not committed fully to Canberra as its National Capital. 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. Can all these people [who have seen ghosts] be wrong? Most likely even before Dr. Nott actually arrived on the scene, the police and fireman realized that a doctor was not going to be necessary. AIR DISASTER MEMORIAL The haunting: On August 13, 1940, a Lockheed Hudson bomber plummeted into this hill, burst into flames, sadly killing all 10 people on board. Is it a ghost? [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. Hear tales of: The Canberra funeral parlour that was once a hot bed of espionage activity. In many cases, yes. or maybe on some nights it is? With the onset of World War II, Street's portfolio was split, and he became Minister for the Army. Bomber crash from 1940. For further reading, check out the following links: National Archives of Australia fact sheet 142 I could see the flames," recalls Mr Nott, a retired doctor. Sounds creepy, maybe we should camp there a night. The cause of death listed on the death certificates is exactly the same for all of the men: Fractured Skulls. My heartbeat races. [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. privacy policy. 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 Months passed with no sign of Keren. Thankfully its neither. Love your home every day with quality products from Monaro Screens. 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. In some circles, the night time trip to the memorial is considered a rite of passage. 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. Some commentators used this issue to demand, once again, that all Commonwealth Administration occur at one Seat of Government. Just a short distance from the Canberra Airport sits a memorial for an R.A.A.F. It was a series of four coordinated attacks by the Islamic terrorist group, Al-Qaeda, on the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Pssst did you know there's more to Enlighten than its signature events? 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. 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. Where to eat, what to drink in the Canberra region. Copyright 2023 Region Group Pty Ltd ABN 85 168 887 232. When you first arrive at the base of the hill near the Canberra Speedway and the Paintball sports ground it feels like you cannot possibly be in the right place. 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. War historian and MHR for Henty Each of them had a place not only in the Cabinet but in my heart". The splat of the paintball guns and the hollers of the revellers seem distinctly out-of-place. "Yesterdays" columnist NICHOLE OVERALL looks at the mystery surrounding the crash. 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. Pssst did you know there's more to Enlighten than its signature events? Its amazing the effect that a cloak of darkness can have on you. When we started talking again the noises would come back, this went on until we left, recalls Mr Evans. It was not clear where the sound was coming from; if we were quiet and tried to listen the noises would stop. Theres nothing unusual about a car stalling and then rolling forward. 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. This remote and slightly eerie site would make a good setting for a scene in my next book, and I am contemplating a meeting between Clio and Renee occurring here for a number of reasons. Richard Edwin Elford. Your ultimate guide to dining, nightlife, entertainment, wineries, style and events in the capital. The cause of the crash has always been a mystery, although there has never been any suggestion of enemy action or sabotage. 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. It sounds quite close. Am I being followed? 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. 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. The crash took place at 10:15a.m. in fine weather, in what the Melbourne Herald called "ideal flying conditions". In the wake of the loss of three senior Cabinet ministers, Menzies was forced to reshuffle his ministry. This columns recent expose on the Air Disaster Memorial (ADM) has promoted a large amount of correspondence, particularly regarding on the sites spooky nature. I'd like to see the economic modelling thats been done. Unlike most other places, this location has more than one legend attached to it. When the fanatical Christians are up there its spooky. James Fairbairn, Minister for Air and Civil Aviation. [7] Fairbairn invited three other senior officials to join him on the flight Geoffrey Street, Minister for the Army; Henry Gullett, Minister for Information, and General Brudenell White, Chief of the General Staff. 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! But why leave her body at a location that people visit? Thats questionable, but planesyes. Officials at the time stated it was because it was warming up, however the plane had just recently completed a flight and no warm-up would have been necessary. It changed him from sceptic to true believer in an instant. Nah! The aircraft crashed into a hill with great force, killing all occupants instantly, then burning fiercely. Given this, we still must wonder about the ten men killed on the fateful day in August. A. F. Aircraftsman Class 1 Charles Joseph Crosdale, R. A. All rights reserved. It's the 80th anniversary of Canberra's worst air disaster. All ten men in the aircraft - four crew and six passengers - lost their lives in the crash. A lot of peoples cars either stall or refuse to start around the area. The Air Disaster Memorial on Mount Ainslie is another place reputed to be haunted.. Yep, you have to walk there as the gate is locked. 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. The request, in January 1952, was referred to Prime Minister Robert Menzies, who was Chair of the National Memorials Committee and very supportive of the project. Rhetorical question. National Film and Sound Archives 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? An officer in the Australian Army from 1910, Thornthwaite was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross for his service during World War I. By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's, Exhibition Gallery, National Library of Australia (Parkes Place -Canberra ACT 2600), Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra, National Museum of Australia Lawson Crescent Acton, ACT 2601, Grass fire sparked near Majura Firing Range, Two people killed in highway crash near Gunning, Man accused of breaking the law one hour after receiving bail, Amaroo man refused bail over allegedly collecting 500,000 files of child abuse, All aboard? Who while serving their country lost their lives on this spot in an aircraft accident on 13th August 1940. Rolling Hills Asylum is one of the creepiest places in New York. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Press alt + / to open this menu. [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. Even during the day the area around the memorial is spooky. It seems fitting that these sounds intrude; linking the past to the present. [8] The chiefs of staff of the army, navy and air force were also due to be in attendance. Loving their jobs, theyve refused to move on and linger around to lend a helping hand. 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). Another oddity about the inquest is the causes of death. 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. The silence is sometimes punctured by the distant sound of gunfire from the Defence firing range or the passage of helicopters and aeroplanes flying over from the nearby airport. and Sydney Airport to auction off lost laptops, phones, cameras and more. Pearl Preview Screening at Dendy Cinema Friday 3 March Most of these senior Commonwealth figures held posts related to Australia's defence. In the past we have borne all the costs associated with maintaining the website but we are now having difficulties in paying the monthly expenses. 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. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite, Staff Officer to General White. By day the walk seems harmless, just an uneventful stroll through an ordinary pine forest. The wreckage was first spotted many hours later by Henry and Palen Hudgin, brothers who flew short taxi flights for Grand Canyon Airlines. 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. The monolith was dedicated on 13 August 1960 in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Australias 16th Prime Minister governed the country from Room 214 during the 1940s and unexpectedly died from a heart attack in this top floor room. 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. No orbs for me my cameras batteries have inexplicably drained (which apparently is not an uncommon occurrence here). An account of his comments appears in the book Air Crash vol. It may explode and kill you! 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