Frederick John WRIDGWAY [3113]

  General Notes:

1908 VIC Australia Birth Fredk Jno, Ernt, Lily Helen (Gunter),Reg. no1396
1937 VIC Australia Death 1637/1937 age 29

The Argus Monday 1 Feb 1937
Two Killed in Air Crash
The wreckage of the aeroplane which crashed at Essendon on Saturday. The pilot and a passenger were killed.
TWO MEN KILLED WHEN PLANE CRASHES
Dived Into Essendon Paddock
Mr. Frederick J. Wridgway, aged 29 years, aircraft engineer, of Fairfield grove, Hawthorn, and Mr. Ian Colin Kenneth MacKenzie, aged 23 years, law clerk, of St. Kilda road, Melbourne, were killed almost instantly when a Blackburn Bluebird biplane crashed in a paddock near the Essendon aerodrome at 2.40 p.m. on Saturday.
At a height of between 150 and 200 feet, as it was turning, the machine went into a spin, made two complete turns, and crashed to the ground nose first at a speed of more than 50 miles an hour. The victims, who were qualified pilots, were sitting side by side in the machine, which is fitted with dual controls. When the Blue-bird left the aerodrome Mr. Wridgway was piloting, but it is believed that Mr. MacKenzie took charge of the controls when the plane was in the air.
The Bluebird crashed among a flock of sheep in a paddock near Sharpe's road, owned by Mr. B. A. Thomas, of Deer Park, where Mr. J. McKenzie, of Bulla, was working. "When I saw the plane turning I thought for a moment that the pilot was going to dive above me," said Mr. McKenzie. "The machine was flying in a north-westerly direction, and then the pilot turned it right around, apparently to return to the aerodrome. The plane made a steeper bank until it was almost vertical. Then the nose dropped and the engine seemed to be throttled back to little more than idling speed. The plane made two wide spins, falling at an angle of about 60deg., and I thought until the very moment that it struck the ground that the pilot would get safely out of the spin.
"The propeller tore into the earth with a terrific crash, and I immediately rushed over to the wrecked machine with Mr. L. Wall, of Cowper street, North Essendon, who saw the crash also, and Mr. W. Thomas, who was inside the farmhouse. Almost imperceptibly the heads and arms of the victims moved, and one of them muttered, 'Are you hurt, Geordie?' Then the men slumped forward. They were dead. I pulled Mr. MacKenzie from the wreckage, but I had to cut the safety belt before I could remove Mr. Wridgway. There was petrol lying everywhere, and I was amazed that it did not ignite, because the hot engine was driven right into the tank."
Mr. MacKenzie's safety belt was undone, and it is believed that he had made preparations to leap from the plane, if he escaped serious injury, immediately it struck the ground.
The machine, which was built of metal, was wrecked beyond repair. The breaking of the fuselage about a foot behind the cockpit broke Mr. Wridgway's back and crushed both men against the dashboard.
Seeing the plane crashing to the ground, Frank Riley, aged 15 years, of Queen's parade, North Fitzroy, rode his bicycle along Bulla road to the aerodrome. Mechanics climbed to the tops of the hangars and searched the paddocks through field glasses, while a pilot drove a motor-car toward the scene of the tragedy. A few minutes later Mr. Keith Farmer, the owner of the Bluebird, and Mr. H. W. Ellis flew to the paddock in a Sopwith.
The Victims were taken in a Civil ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and then to the morgue. Members of the Air Accidents Investigation Committee examined the wreckage.
Many thousands of passengers have been taken for "joy rides" in the Bluebird. It was bought for about £900. The damage has been estimated at £500.
A few months ago Mr. Wridgway flew His Excellency the Governor (Lord Huntingfield) from Wycheproof to Melbourne after Lord Huntingfield had become ill.
Mr. MacKenzie, whose father is the president of the Melbourne Scots, was an officer of the Victorian Scottish Regiment. He took part in the recent air race from Brisbane to Adelaide, for which he chartered "AL," one of the Aero Club's oldest but fastest Moths. Miss Lois Niven, of Hurstbridge, who was his fiancee, was a passenger in another machine in the race. At one stage Mr. MacKenzie was in second position in the handicap section. He had been considering becoming a commercial pilot, and on Saturday he ascended in the Blackburn Bluebird with Mr. Wridgway to gain experience. If he had flown a certain number of hours in the plane the Civil Aviation Department would have endorsed his "A" class licence, certifying that he was proficient in the handling of that type of machine.
Mr. MacKenzie was the eldest son of Mr. C. N. MacKenzle, solicitor, and he worked in his father's office. He was born at Mount Gambier, where members of his family had been pioneers, and he was educated at St. Peter's Adelaide. He came of an old Scottish family, and he had the right to the title of Master of Hilton, as his father by descent is MacKenzie of Hilton. About a year ago he joined the Aero Club and obtained an "A" class licence. He had had about 50 hours' flying experience, and he was regarded as a competent pilot.
His body was taken to Mount Gambier yesterday afternoon. The funeral cortege will leave the Church of England, Mount Gambler, at 2.30 p.m. today for the Mount Gambier Cemetery. Captain R. M. Buchanan and Lieutenant F. W. Speed will represent the regiment at the funeral. The funeral arrangements are in the hands of W. G. Apps and Sons Pty. Ltd. St. Kilda.
Since Mr Wridgway left the Melbourne High School, where he was educated, he had taken a keen interest in flying. He left the firm of Wridgway Bros (Auburn) Pty. Ltd. furniture removers, to join the staff of the Matthews Aviation Company, Essendon where he worked as an aircraft engineer for nearly seven years. Last week he resigned from this company to apply for the position of ground engineer and assistant instructor to the Victorian section of the Australian Aero Club. He had been trained by the club and had gained a B class or commercial pilot's, licence. His wife was admitted to a private hospital last week. The funeral cortege will leave Mr Wridgway's home at 2 p.m. on Tuesday for the Box Hill Cemetery.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Monday 1 Feb 1937
TWO KILLED IN PLANE CRASH
Dive From 150 Feet Into Paddock
SURVIVE FOR SHORT PERIOD
One Heard To Speak To Companion
MELBOURNE, January 31.
Frederick J. Wridgway 27 of Hawthorn, and Ian Colin MacKenzie, 23, of St. Kilda, were killed almost instantly when a plane crashed in a paddock near the Essendon Aerodrome yesterday afternoon. Both men were qualified pilots, and they were flying a Blackburn Bluebird fitted with dual control, in which both pilots sat side by side. It is believed that MacKenzie was flying the machine. At a height of between 150 feet and 200 feet, as the machine was turning it went into a spin, made two complete turns and crashed nose first into the ground. MacKenzie, who was a law clerk had for some time been considering becoming a commercial pilot. On Saturday, he ascended with Wridgway who had had much experience of the Blackburn Bluebird type of plane, to gain flying experience. After he had flown a certain number of hours, the Civil Aviation Department would have endorsed his A Class licence certificate to the effect that he was proficient in flying Blackburn Bluebird machines. Wridgway was in charge when the machine left the aerodrome, but it is thought that MacKenzie took charge of the dual controls when the plane was in the air.
Plane Falls On Sheep:
The plane crashed into the midst of a flock of sheep grazing in a paddock where Mr. J. McKenzie, of Bulla, was working. Mr. McKenzie said that the pilot apparently decided to return to the aerodrome. The plane banked steeply, the nose dropped and the engine seemed to be throttled back. As it fell, it made too wide spins. The propeller tore into the earth with a terrific crash. Messrs. McKenzie and L. Wall of North Essendon, ran to the wreckage. Both men in the plane were alive and made one or two feeble movements. One of them muttered. "Are you hurt, Geordie?" Both men were dead when Messrs. McKenzie and Wall dragged them from the cockpit after cutting Wridgway's safety belt. The engine had been driven back into the petrol tank and though petrol was sprayed over the plane it did not catch fire. Although the machine is an all metal one, it was wrecked beyond repair. The fuselage broke about a foot behind the cockpit and both men were crushed against the dash board. Wridgway's back was broken. Wridgway left the staff of the Matthews Aviation Company last week to) apply for the position of ground engineer and assistant instructor to the Victorian section of the Australian Aero Club. He was married, and last week his wife was admitted to the maternity section of a private hospital. MacKenzie's father is president of the Melbourne Scots, and he himself was an officer in the Victorian Scottish Regiment.

The Sydney Morning Herald & The Examiner Launceston, Monday 1 Feb 1837
TWO PILOTS KILLED. PLANE CRASHES.
Wrecked in Paddock.
DUAL CONTROL MACHINE.
MELBOURNE, Sunday.
Frederick J. Wridgway, 27, of Hawthorn, and Ian Colin Mackenzie, 23, of St. Kilda-road, Melbourne, were killed when an aeroplane crashed in a paddock near the Essendon aerodrome yesterday afternoon.
Both men were qualified pilots, and they were flying a Blackburn-Bluebird biplane, fitted with dual control, in which they sat side by side. It is believed that Mackenzie was flying the machine. At a height between 1500 feet and 2000 feet, as the machine was turning, it went into a spin, made two complete turns, and crashed, nose first, into the ground.
WHO WAS IN CONTROL?
Mackenzie, who was a law clerk, had been considering the possibility of becoming a commercial pilot. Yesterday he ascended with Wridgway, who had had much experience of the Blackburn-Bluebird type of machine, to gain flying experience After he had flown a certain number of hours, the Civil Aviation Department would have endorsed his A class licence, certifying that he was proficient in flying Blackburn-Bluebird machines. Wridgway was in charge when the machine left the aerodrome, but it is thought that Mackenzie took control when the 'plane was in the air.
The plane crashed into a flock of sheep, which was grazing in a paddock, where J. McKenzie, of Bulla, was working. McKenzie said that the pilot had apparently decided to return to the aerodrome. The plane banked steeply, the nose dropped, and the engine seemed to be throttled back. As it fell, it made two wide spins. The propeller tore into the earth with a terrible crash.
McKenzie and L. Wall, of North Essendon, ran to the wreckage. Both men were alive, and made one or two feeble movements. One of them muttered, "Are you hurt Geordie?" Both died before McKenzie and Wall dragged them from the cockpit, after having cut Wridgway's safety belt. The engine had been driven back into the petrol tank, and petrol was sprayed over the plane, but it did not catch fire.
PLANE BEYOND REPAIR.
Although the machine was all metal, it was wrecked beyond repair. The fuselage broke about a foot behind the cockpit, and both men were crushed against the dashboard. Wridgway's back was broken.
Both bodies were taken to the Morgue.
Members of the Air Accidents Investigation Committee inspected the wreckage of the Blackburn-Bluebird, which had been used for taking passengers on "Joy rides." A few months ago, the plane was chartered to take the Governor (Lord Huntingfield) from Wycheproof to Melbourne, when he became ill.
Wridgway left the staff of the Matthews Aviation Co. last week to apply for the position of ground engineer and assistant instructor to the Victorian section of the Australian Aero Club. He was married, and last week his wife was admitted to the maternity section of a private hospital.
MacKenzie's father is president of the Melbourne Scots, and he himself was an officer in the Victorian Scottish Regiment.

The Sydney Morning Herald Monday 1 Feb 1937
Plane Crash
Frederick Wridgway, 27, and Ian Colin MacKenzie, 23, both qualified pilots, were killed when an aeroplane crashed near the Essendon aerodrome, Melbourne, on Saturday afternoon.

The Argus (Melbourne 1848-1957 Tuesday 2 February 1937
Death Notices:
WRIDGWAY - On the 30th January (accidentally) at Essendon Aerodrome, Frederick John, dearly loved son of Mrs and the late Mr. E. Wridgway, brother of Edith (Mrs Wing, New Zealand), Herbert, James and Jean aged 30 years.

WRIDGWAY -On the 30th January (accidentally) Frederick John, loved brother of Robert and Frances, uncle of Irene, Patricia Herbert and Joan.

WRIDGWAY -On the 30th January (accidentally), Frederick John, loved brother or Edith and Chris, uncle of Keith and Ronald of Dunedin New Zealand.

WRIDGWAY -On the 30th January (accidentally), Frederick John, loved brother of James and May and uncle of Victor.

WRIDGWAY -On the 30th January (accidentally) loved nephew of Harry P and May Wridgway, cousin of Evelyn (Mrs Varty) and Mabel.

WRIDGWAY - On the 30th January (result of plain accident) pal of Dorothy and Bert.

Funeral Notices:
WRIDGWAY The Friends of the late FREDRICK JOHN WRIDGWAY are respectfull informed that his remains will be interred in the Box Hill Cemetery THIS DAY (Tuesday, 2nd February, 1937). The funeral is appointed to leave his late residence, 3 Fairfield avenue, Camberwell, at 2 p.m. arriving at cemetery gates at 2.45 p.m. Mortician Company, Funeral Directors Phone Hawthorn 6428.

WRIDGWAY -- Members of the Australian Aero Club, Victoria section, are respectfully requested to attend the funeral of our late loved member FREDRICK JOHN WRIDGWAY, leaving his residence 3 Fairfield avenue Camberwell THIS DAY (Tuesday 2nd February 1937) at 2 p.m. C KERSHAW Secretary, Mortician Company Funeral Directors Phone Hawthorn 6428.

The Argus Wednesday 3 Feb 1937
WRIDGWAY. -On the 30th January, result of plane accident Frederick John, loved cousin of F and M Wridgway.

The Australian Worker (Sydney, NSW : 1913 - 1950) Wed 3 Feb 1937
News From Everywhere:
FREDERICK WRIDGWAY, 27, and Ian Colin Mackenzie, 23, both qualified pilots, were killed when an aeroplane crashed near the Essendon (V.) aerodrome last Saturday afternoon.

Fred married Gladys Gwenda Irene WESTAWAY [3114] [MRIN: 1021] in 1928 in Victoria, Australia. (Gladys Gwenda Irene WESTAWAY [3114] was born in 1905 in Northcote, Victoria, Australia and died in 1985 in Canterbury, Victoria, Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

1928 Victoria Australia Marriage 9903/1928