HC Deb 02 March 1938 vol 332 cc1102-3
51. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he has any statement to make on the loss of the Royal Air Force long-distance bombing aeroplane after leaving Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, on Thursday last?

57. Mr. Thorne

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any information in connection with the loss of the Royal Air Force Vickers-Wellesley bomber which has been missing for several days?

64. Mr. Roland Robinson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the fact that a Vickers-Wellesley bomber operated by the Royal Air Force, and of secret design, recently disappeared off the East Coast of Scotland, he can say whether any trace of the machine or its crew of three has since been found; what was the date and time of the last radio message from the machine to any shore station; and whether he has any information to give the House?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

The Vickers-Wellesley aircraft belonging to the long-range development unit left Upper Heyford at 11.50 p.m. on 23rd February last on a long-range training flight round Great Britain and has not been heard of since 8.1 the following morning, when a message was received by Renfrew airport from the aircraft acknowledging receipt of a bearing given to it. An organised air and ground search has been made over the area in which the aircraft was likely to pass, but no trace of the aircraft or its crew has so far been found. The search by air has now been abandoned, and the next-of-kin of the personnel involved have been informed that it must now be accepted that the crew have lost their lives. I am sure the House will wish to join me in an expression of sympathy with the relatives in the sorrow and anxiety which they have suffered.

Mr. Henderson

Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman's attention been drawn to a statement, widely published in a Sunday newspaper, that this machine may have been stolen, and will he repudiate such a sensational suggestion?

Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead

I did hear something about that report. I can only say that, so far as we are concerned, there is no suggestion that there is any foundation for it at all.