Post by Dave Homewood on May 23, 2017 17:59:34 GMT 12
The famous WWI pilot and well known airline pioneer and display pilot S/Ldr Malcolm 'Mac' McGregor was killed on the 19th of February 1936 when his Miles Falcon aircraft collided with a pole at Rongotai aerodrome while he approached on landing.
I was well aware that by a month later a McGregor Memorial Fund had been set up to raise money for his four children, and their future education. And I was also aware that the McGregor Memorial Fund Air Pageant was held at Rongotai Aerodrome on the 28th of March 1936 to raise money for that fund. During that event tragedy struck a second time when Mac's good friend F/Lt James 'Scotty' Fraser plummeted to his death when his parachute failed to open during a demonstration, to the horror of thousands of onlookers.
What I'd not realised till now is this was one of a series of events held for the fund. An air pageant had raised money for Mac's fund at Wigram on the 29th of February 1936.
This was followed by an air pageant at Milson (Mac's home airport) on the 22nd of March 1936. During that Scotty had made two jumps and his second had seen him drift dangerously towards a row of macrocarpa trees that had recently been trimmed so their branches were like stakes. He avoided the trees and came down heavily on a road. He had a bit of a scare but sadly a week later he was killed making his next jump.
And on the 4th of April 1936 a further air pageant was held at Rukuhia, Hamilton, to raise more money for the fund. The Air Force sent three Vildebeest down to this event from Hobsonville, and the Klemm Eagle that W. O'Hara recently crossed the Tasman in was also in attendance.
And in Auckland a non-aviation event was held to raise money for the fund, when the "Gaieties of 1936" was performed for free at His Majesty's Theatre, with donations being collected for the fund. I believe the three air pageants were also all free admission with donations to the fund being asked.
And one of Mac's friends, within weeks of his death, had set about writing Mac's biography. He did so anonymously, using Mac's logbooks and other writings and stores he'd told to complete the book, which became 'Mac's Memoirs', with all proceeds going to the fund.
I find it amazing how the aviation community and the public rallied to support Macs family (and after Scotty's death, his too, as he left two children).
Has any other aviator in NZ history generated such an outpouring of generosity after their death to support their family?
I was well aware that by a month later a McGregor Memorial Fund had been set up to raise money for his four children, and their future education. And I was also aware that the McGregor Memorial Fund Air Pageant was held at Rongotai Aerodrome on the 28th of March 1936 to raise money for that fund. During that event tragedy struck a second time when Mac's good friend F/Lt James 'Scotty' Fraser plummeted to his death when his parachute failed to open during a demonstration, to the horror of thousands of onlookers.
What I'd not realised till now is this was one of a series of events held for the fund. An air pageant had raised money for Mac's fund at Wigram on the 29th of February 1936.
This was followed by an air pageant at Milson (Mac's home airport) on the 22nd of March 1936. During that Scotty had made two jumps and his second had seen him drift dangerously towards a row of macrocarpa trees that had recently been trimmed so their branches were like stakes. He avoided the trees and came down heavily on a road. He had a bit of a scare but sadly a week later he was killed making his next jump.
And on the 4th of April 1936 a further air pageant was held at Rukuhia, Hamilton, to raise more money for the fund. The Air Force sent three Vildebeest down to this event from Hobsonville, and the Klemm Eagle that W. O'Hara recently crossed the Tasman in was also in attendance.
And in Auckland a non-aviation event was held to raise money for the fund, when the "Gaieties of 1936" was performed for free at His Majesty's Theatre, with donations being collected for the fund. I believe the three air pageants were also all free admission with donations to the fund being asked.
And one of Mac's friends, within weeks of his death, had set about writing Mac's biography. He did so anonymously, using Mac's logbooks and other writings and stores he'd told to complete the book, which became 'Mac's Memoirs', with all proceeds going to the fund.
I find it amazing how the aviation community and the public rallied to support Macs family (and after Scotty's death, his too, as he left two children).
Has any other aviator in NZ history generated such an outpouring of generosity after their death to support their family?
