This 3km loop through the Fairbairn Pine plantation outside of Canberra is a nice trip through dense pine forest with a unique stop along the way at the Air Disaster Memorial. Copyright 2023 Region Group Pty Ltd ABN 85 168 887 232. Though it was not dread, it was a distinct feeling of unease asI headed down to the opening in the forest at the site of the ADM. 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]. [16][17], More recently the RAAF Historian C. D. Coulthard-Clark, in his book The Third Brother, called into question the flying ability of the pilot-in-command, FLTLT Hitchcock. Incidentally, Dr. Nott did not bring a female nurse with him to assist in possible rescues, but his 10-year-old son. According to Tinny from Destiny Tours her ghost has been seen standing on the edge of a clearing, a brown sepia image that people have described accurately as her, even down to such details as having her hair pulled back, something she rarely did, but had done so on the day of her death. 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. Air Disaster Memorial It's been 75 years since a Lockheed Hudson bomber crashed into a hill between Canberra airport and Queanbeyan, killing 10 people. Despite her pregnancy having been confirmed in November 1970 by her physician, there was no evidence of a fetus when her body was found. The memorial is a large granite monolith with a bronze inscription with a dedication to the lives . For many years now, the crash site has sparked tales of distressing apparitions. [9] Two other ministers, George McLeay and Arthur Fadden, were also invited, but declined seats as they had already arranged to take the train. When I used to smoke Drugs, lots of stuff went on at the top of the hill, since going back after 10 years off the drugs, it wasnt that fun Nothing happend! Isnt the Air Disaster Memorial inaccessible at the moment because you have to go through the paintball field to get to it? Live it up, Lakeside.New spaces. On the 13th August 1940, a Lockheed Hudson II Bomber crashed at Mount Ainslie in the Australian Capital Territory just outside of Queanbeyan in New South Wal. Yep we have spooks from all walks of death, some born from suspicious circumstances, terrible endings and others that have simply refused to move on. In fact, it is doubtful that she even existed and the whole story is an urban legend. Blundell's Cottage is among the sites shrouded in mystery. [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". On leaving I could see and hear kangaroos jumping ahead and behind me. instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser, Eight destinations that films and TV shows changed forever, From borders to tunnels, here are 10 of the world's astonishingly long things. The next weekend they took new friends up there to show them what they had seen there again, the little girl was, standing by the gate. Chief of the General Stafff. Due to an old injury, Fairbairns right arm was noticeably shorter than his left. The Air Disaster Memorial is dedicated to the memory of those who died when an RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft crashed on this site on 13th August 1940. . On 9 August, the station administrative officer at RAAF Laverton received instructions to prepare a flight to Canberra on 13 August, to be reserved for James Fairbairn, the air and civil aviation minister. War historian and MHR for Henty Canberras annual Craft Beer & Cider Festival keeps coming back bigger and better, with 2023 being no exception. And because the site has this odd feeling one can only speculate that it must be amplified at night, possibly the reason why so many strange stories are told about the place. It would have been very easy to solve the mystery of whether or not Minister Fairbairn had been flying. I find it odd that every man wouldve died from a skull fracture. 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. Three Commonwealth Ministers and the Chief of the General Staff were travelling from Melbourne to attend a Cabinet meeting. Here is his chilling account. It's the 80th anniversary of Canberra's worst air disaster. It was a hospital and a psych ward. The monolith was dedicated on 13 August 1960 in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Hon. I could see the flames," recalls Mr Nott, a retired doctor. Of course, this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever as no nurse died in the rescue attempt and as far as I can ascertain, no WWII nurse has ever died on Mount Ainslie. Later on when they had reached the top of the hill they saw her again sitting on the ground crying. People that were in the area reported seeing unearthly lights that would flash in an old dirt parking lot next to the memorial. Every direction appears devoid of life, just tall darkened tree trunks lined up like thousands of giant tombstones. Is it too soon to get excited about the 2023 Brumbies? 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. At the far end a grey metal plaque has been erected on an aerodynamic lectern, its surface weathered by hard Canberra winters. The Air Disaster Memorial and other Canberra spooky places have been discussed previously on RiotACT here, here and here. There was also the question of why the plane sat at the runway waiting to take off for an additional 10 minutes after it had been cleared for takeoff. Its just past 11pm and as I carefully clamber over the first gate it immediately feels like Ive entered another realm. 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. Accessibility Help. 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. According to an August 14, 1940 article in The Argus Officials who examined the wreckage are certain that it was very little damaged in the landing, and that had the fire not occurred, the occupants would have escaped. It seems perhaps it was easier on the coroner to tell the families of these men that they died instantly from skull fractures, and not that they died a horrible death from smoke inhalation and fire after the initial crash. It seems fitting that these sounds intrude; linking the past to the present. During these tours, the charismatic ghost hunter uncovers the secrets and stories behind some of the capital's allegedly haunted locales from the National Film and Sound Archive, the Air Disaster Memorial, Duntroon House and even Old Parliament House. Loving their jobs, theyve refused to move on and linger around to lend a helping hand. The Air Disaster Memorial sits in the Fairbairn pine plantation on the eastern edge of Canberra. When I first read about this legend, I immediately had a mental image of a man who was killed in the crash but didnt realize he was dead. Affixed to the rock is a plaque dedicated to the dead. 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! Thankfully its neither. The crash took place at 10:15a.m. in fine weather, in what the Melbourne Herald called "ideal flying conditions". [19] Goodwin was assisted by Thomas Mills, a representative of the Crown Solicitor's Office. How Canberra could become a test case for high-speed rail, First Look: NoshersCBR - the Belconnen food van producing fantastic burgers, Minister vowed to double down on Robodebt even when told it was illegal, royal commission hears, Department of Finance executives encouraged conduct in alleged fraud conspiracy, barrister claims, Big agenda, big deal if the APS isn't at capacity, Getting loud about live music and the night-time economy. The site itself is not particularly impressive unless you stop to contemplate the magnitude of what happened here 77 years ago and its effect on our nation in a time of war. yea the new access road goes up between the speedway and paintball fieldnow that you mention engines suddenly stopping and refusing to start i recall this happening to me on the speedway many timesalmost certainly caused by the ghosts i would say..or perhaps holden v6s dont like having the rev limiter removed and then being revved to well past 10000 rpm?.either way i wish itd stop bloody happening. Music, festivals, charity events - everything thats happening in the Canberra region. He was appointed Minister for Air at the onset of World War II, and regained the Civil Aviation portfolio in 1940. 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. A private memorial service for the families of the victims of the 1996 TWA Flight 800 explosion is being held on Saturday, 25 years after the disaster that killed 230 people and just before the . Its age-old hallways were once lined with hundreds of skulls and today it has at least three known spooks playing havoc in many of the darkened rooms and old cinema. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Thornthwaite, Staff Officer to General White. Personally, I think it's only a matter of handling your throttles wisely". The path goes up another small hill, a turn to the right, then onward. However it was not until Dame Annabelle Rankin wrote to the then Minister for Air, William McMahon, about the request by Sir Brundenell White`s relatives that a small cairn be erected at the point of the crash in memory of those who lost their lives, that the suggestion was given serious consideration. Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. Have they simply misinterpreted what they have experienced? Is it private property or is there some other reason? Almost as ridiculous as the uphill rolling cars is the myth that, if your car stops on the cattle grid near the memorial, a ghostly nurse who was present after the 1942 aircraft crash, and who tried to help, will coming running from the forest and try to get into the car, as if to help you. 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. 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. Live music. It disappeared behind a low tree-dotted hill. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. The deaths of the three cabinet ministers severely weakened the United Australia Party government of Robert Menzies and contributed to its fall in 1941. I could hear scuttling from underneath the trees. For many years, this monolith was the only memorial to a disaster which changed the course of the war for Australia, and was partially responsible for the fall of the Menzies government. Tripologist: Can we explore the Bordeaux region by train? 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