A Bomber, adrift at sea. 1943.

The Sydney Morning Herald 21 Apr 1943 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17845323

Many sailors have been involved in rescues at sea, but I expect that they mainly rescue humans. What would you think if you got this call, to rescue a plane that is floating on a raft? I suspect that you would be checking the date wasn’t April the first.

I imagine that every morning the captain of the Samsonia wandered out on deck and just shook his head to see the Lockheed bomber, lashed to a raft, trailing along behind his own tug. It must have been one hell of a raft, to keep a bomber afloat for three days.

Can you imagine if they were unable to find it and at some later date an  unsuspecting fisherman came across it?

What fantastical story do you think he would attach to this amazing sight?

Bees on a Plane. 1931.

The Canberra Times 3 May 1931 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2374432

In the vein of the movie ‘Snakes on a Plane’ here we have ‘Bees on a  plane’.

Imagine how you would feel if next time you are flying, a swarm of bees invaded the cabin? I am aware that bees are generally benign, but I doubt that many people would choose to be in a plane with a newly disturbed hive.

I am sure the pilot was not the happiest, no matter how much training he had done, onboard swarming is hardly something you can prepare for really, is it?

If you hate your job, you should just quit. Extreme measures. 1936.

Albany Advertiser 21 Dec 1936 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70259057

What an unusual way to hasten the end. If you hate your job you should really do something a little less drastic about it. I wonder what the pilot was thinking as this guy dove out?

I wonder if it was his own shop or if he had spent ages just dreaming about smashing through the roof onto his surprised boss?

I am sure we have all imagined ways to tell a crappy boss to shove their job, but diving through the roof from 3,500 ft? Really? I think he could have thought that through a little better.

Either way, it would appear he missed the grocery altogether and only managed to ruin a nearby bungalow and nearly take out some innocent bystanders. Those poor women are never going to feel safe indoors again!

Mad horse in a plane. 1947.

Yet another tale of an angry horse where no horse should be.

The Mercury 12 May 1947   

When you are driving a car and have a tantrum throwing child in the back it can be quite hard to keep your mind on the job at hand.

At least when you are driving you can pull over and threaten death to restore order.

Imagine having a crazed horse distracting you when you are at altitude. You can’t really pull over and do something about it, can you?

I wonder how the horse was ‘made secure’ for the rest of the trip? I mean, it had already kicked its way through three stalls that day. I wonder what they thought would hold it? I am guessing that a large dose of tranquilizers and a length of rope securely tied around those previously flailing legs played a part.

(http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26398031)

Another reason not to eat cauliflower. 1929.

Northern Territory Times 22 Jan 1929 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4558889

After yesterdays death by fish, here is another unexpected end.

Poor Alfred Charles Smith. The guy was digging in his veggie garden and BAM! an aeroplane cut his head off. What are the chances?

Of all the things that he could have expected to happen to him that day in his caulie patch I am sure dying in a plane crash wasn’t on the list. Poisonous spider or snakebite, both unpleasant but not entirely unexpected. But decapitated by an aeroplane?

On my wanders today, I will not be expecting death from above but as these articles show it can come from anywhere, above or below, at any time…