02/06/2026
100 years ago today - a young Red Cliffs sportsman, who had recently joined the air force, dies tragically.
As reported by the Sun News-Pictorial:
"FLYING Cadet Aubrey Henry Percival, 21, Omar-street, Caulfield, was killed at 3.35 p.m. yesterday, when the Avro A3-27 instruction plane he was piloting alone nosedived from a height of several hundred feet and crashed to the ground near Western Millers-road, East Wyndham, about four miles from Point Cook.
Cadet Percival was seen to spiral down from a high altitude and disappear into a bank of mist by Point Cook observers, but first news of the accident was brought to them by a C.O.R. employee. To locate the crash an observation plane was sent. When found the machine was a mass of wreckage, and Percival’s body was lying 15 yards away, with almost every bone broken. It is believed that, knowing his plane to be out of control Percival jumped when within 50 ft. of the ground.
Dr. R. O. Mills, Monaro-street, Malvern, who was motoring past, saw the accident and rushed to the scene. Seeing that death had been instantaneous he immediately called Constable Ware from the Williamstown police station. Constables Smedley and Hickcox, also of Williamstown, followed.
The Clerget engine of the plane was broken up, having been driven into the ground about a foot by the force of the impact. The bodywork of the machine was splintered to pieces. A number of cadets under the charge of a senior officer arrived soon after the observation plane had located the crash. The wreckage was placed in the van and taken to Point Cook.
The cause of the accident is at present unknown, the damaged condition of the plane having destroyed any trace of failing controls or engine. An official inquiry will be hold shortly.
"We do not know yet how the accident happened," said Major P. R. Coleman, secretary of the Air Board, yesterday. "Cadet Percival was considered an efficient trainee. He joined the Point Cook school on April 26 after leaving the Jervis Bay Naval College. His first flight was made on May 28, following a course of instruction. He has made a number of solo flights since."
A dance which was to have taken place tonight at Point Cook will be cancelled owing to the accident."
The Sunraysia Daily wrote that:
"Aubrey Henry Percival was formerly employed as a draughtsman in the Red Cliffs office of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission and left there to join the Air Force. He was a prominent member of the Red Cliffs "A" grade cricket team
and was a splendid and forceful bat. He contributed many-good scores during his playing. He was a representative of Mildura in the representative district team that visited Maryborough. Percival was a fine out-fieldsman and a safe catch. At football he was one of the most brilliant players of the Red Cliffs team last year. He possessed great dash and marking ability and was scrupulously fair. His demise is mourned by many friends in the district."
A further article in the Daily notes that:
"The Red Cliffs football team, of which Percival was a playing member, wore black arm-bands on Saturday last as a mark of respect. A movement is on foot among the Red Cliffs sportsmen to erect a tablet to his memory in the church. Mr. S. Ellis is acting-secretary, and will receive donations from sportsmen and the public. The committee hope that an appropriate tablet, which will act as a memorial to one of Red Cliffs' best athletes, will be secured."
As to the cause of the accident, The Argus reported that:
"Making his third solo flight in an Avro instructional aeroplane on June 3, Cadet Aubrey Henry Percival, of Point Cooke, apparently lost control of the machine, and, falling from a height of 2000ft., was fatally injured. A number of flying officers gave evidence before the coroner (Mr. Berriman, P. M.) at the morgue yesterday morning [June 28], and stated their respective views of regarding the probable cause of the accident. Inspector Mooney assisted the coroner.
Reginald Orcheston Mills, of Monaro road, Malvern medical practitioner, said:--On June 3 at 25 minutes to 4 o'clock in the afternoon I was in Millers road Williamstown, near the railway line, when I heard an aeroplane travelling to the direction of Point Cooke. Shortly afterwards I heard the engine stop suddenly and I looked up. At first the flight of the machine was straight, then the aeroplane begin to descend, and it fell in a vertical spin, crashing to earth in a paddock. The aeroplane was about 2,000ft. in the air when I first saw it and I was 150 yards from where the machine fell. Until it stopped the engine was working regularly. I ran to the machine and found the pilot lying on his back about 30ft. away. Life was extinct.
Alwyn Stuart Cross, officer in charge of "A" Flight Point Cooke, said:--On June 1 I gave a minute instruction to Cadet Percival, who was flying satisfactorily but was inconsistent in his landings. He needed further instruction in landing before being allowed to make "solo" flights. I reported this to Flying Officer Wells. Percival began training on April 25 and he had had two "solo" flights previous to the accident.
To the Coroner.--Percival had been given 18 hours' actual instruction which is more than is usually given before allowing men to fly alone. I noticed that his, landings were poor on the morning of the accident, and he was then given additional instruction in landing before he was allowed to fly again. He was not trying to land when the accident occurred. The engine had been inspired by a fitter and the other parts of the machine by a rigger. Before Percival took up the machine it had been flown by an instructor. If the engine had stalled it should not have been difficult to land it.
Frederick Ivor Stevens, Sergeant flying instructor Point Cooke, said:--Percival had been my pupil from April 24 to May 25, and had had a total of 13 hours dual instruction in that period. His progress was satisfactory until he was ready to make solo flights. His landing were inconsistent. On the day of the accident I was in the air with Percival for 25 minutes. He had control of the machine and we carried out landings, steep turns, and approaches. He had improved since the last time that I had flown with him and the machine and engine were working satisfactorily during the flight. I then told Percival to make a solo flight to a height of 2,000ft. and practice the movements we had previously carried out. I watched him begin the flight, and then returned to the flight office. I had been an instructor for two months before the accident. I have been in the Air force for five years, and have had 18 months actual flying.
To the Coroner:--I cannot understand how the accident occurred. The "stalling" of the engine should not have accounted for it.
Raymond James Brownell, squadron commanding officer, Point Cooke said:--I tested Cadet Percival on May 25, and found that he was then flying satisfactorily, but his landings were not good. For the time that he had been in training I consider that Percival was an average pupil, who would have made a steady pilot.
To the Coroner:--I think that the accident was ruined by a lack of experience. It is probable that the engine stalled, and that Percival lost his proper gliding speed and to get into a spin.
George Alfred Wells, flying officer, Point Cooke, said:--I took over the instruction of Percival on May 21 and found that his landings were inconsistent, although his flying was Fate I gave him three hours and 20 minutes' instruction, and on May 28 he made his first solo flight, landing safely. He made his second "solo" flight on June 2. I used the machine which Percival was flying on June 3 prior to his flight, and found it in perfect working order.
The fitter and rigger give evidence that they had examined the machine on the morning of the accident and found it to be in good order.
Flight Lieutenant Ivor McIntyre of Point Cooke said:--I flew to the scene of the accident. The visibility was good and the weather was perfect for flying. In my opinion the accident was due to in error of judgment by which Percival lost the proper gliding speed. If an expert pilot had seen the fall he could have said from the nature of the spin whether the machine was under control or not.
The Coroner:--I can only guess at the cause of the accident I find that Percival died from injuries received by accidentally falling with a flying machine in which he was making a flight."
The picture is of two 1920s Avro 504K training planes from Point Cook. It appears courtesy of the State Library of South Australia. You can read more about the plane here: www.awm.gov.au/collection/C154535
