The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954)(about) |
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Thursday 3 March 1938
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AIR ATTACK. Third Demonstration Planned. The second of the series of altitude flights over Perth designed to draw atten tion to the possibilities of air attack was made on Monday, when the plane char tered by Mr. Norbert Keenan, M.L.A, Professor W. Murdoch and Mr. C. L. K. Foot flew over the city at a height of 13,000 feet. Numerous reports were sub sequently received by Mr. Foot from people who had observed the plane from the ground. A third flight is to be made during the next week when, on a day un specified, the plane will fly over the city and suburbs at a height of 15,000 feet. In explanation of the purpose of the flights Mr. Foot has written as fol lows: It has been the principal hope of the promoters to awaki.n interest in a:r defence, to accustom People in a small degree to detect and recognise planes at height, to create a greater degree of alertness and to give the civilian population a taint realisation that war in the air largely takes place, almost out o: sight, above their beans. Whether such a slight understandinlg will be of any use, it is Impassible so say, but it is hoped is may have engendered some thought upon the matter. IJ regard to the point of accustoming people to detect and recognise planes at height. there is considerable need for this in Western Australia, especially up the coast. Should war break out, "esidents in coastal towns and stockmen upon stations near the coast will naturally be upon the alert, and it is only to be expected that a large crop of rumours will come to the Defence Department of mys terious planes flying at great height over dif ferent parts. Were it possible to carry out these altituje flights over our northern coastal towns, it would afford people in the north With a comparison for future guidance in de tectings planes at considerable height. Although this may appear a very simple matter, it is liable to be confused with eagles or large birds flying at about 2,000t. to 3.000ft., wrhich look uncommonly like high-flying planes. There is one unmistakable sign which differentiates between a bird and a plane and that Is the glint from the sun's rays shining cn the wings of the plane. In illustration it is re called that some years ago. owing to the Roolinda being unable to proceed to Wynd ham. Mr. J. Woods was dispatched with the mail by plane to Wyndham. On the after noon be was expected to arrive, almost the entire township and meatworks personnel pro ceeded to the landing ground about seven miles outside the township. Several who did not go saw quite clearly and with every con fidence what appeared to be a Plane at height circling over the town and disappearing behind the BaStian Range. That evening on being informed that the plane had not arrived. so convinced w'ere they that they had seen the plane, that they also convinced the manager of the meatworks (Mr. Elam) that It must have crashed behind the Bastlan Range. Motor cars went out and pat rolled the marshes until midnight. When they returned they were informed that a telegram had arrived stating that the plane was spend inF the night at Molobolo station. Had they looked for the glint upon the plane when it banked and not observing it. the four men would not have been so sure of their ground. With Australia's long coastline to be pat rolled, a gePat deal of information wilt hsve to be relied upon from stockmten and residents in the north coastal areas. Therefore it might he of conside-able use to give the main rentres a demonstration of what to look for. As c final demonstration over rerth. It Is hoped to arrange for a pla'e to fly over the cit' and suburbs for 10 minutes at IS.o0nPt., without notifying the publ'ic of Cither the time or day, to test whether the-e is the smallest chanee of its being observed.