Wikipedia says: 'The Canberra air disaster of 1940 was a plane crash that took place near Canberra, the capital of Australia, on 13 August 1940, during World War II. The six passengers, which included three members of the Australian Cabinet and the Chief of the General Staff, and the four crew were all killed. The deaths of the three cabinet ministers severely weakened the United Australia Party government of Robert Menzies and contributed to its fall in 1941.The causes of the crash have always been a mystery, although there has never been any suggestion of enemy action or sabotage. The crash took place at 10:15 in the morning in fine weather, in what the Melbourne Herald called "ideal flying conditions".
There are several 'versions' of events relating to the crash, which we've read in recent days; including accounts of eerie and paranormal phenomena being experienced by visitors.
It was mid-afternoon today when we arrived at the dirt track road leading to the Memorial site. We'd visited two other 'haunted' sites earlier, savouring this one for last.
We found it quite difficult to actually find the Memorial site, despite a large sign on the main Canberra to Queenbeyan road. Once off the main road, there was only one tiny sign close by to a Paintball enclosure and the local speedway track. Even then it was confusing to know the direction to follow. We ventured on foot past a silver gate and along a dirt track which skirted the speedway premises. The track led to a gate which revealed a signpost warning that the area was army land. In fact it was an area where live ammunition was used ... !!! There was barbed wire .... and a feeling of disappointment in our stomach.
But strangely, to the right was a large wooden board indicating that the Air Crash Memorial site was further along the path. Minutes later, after negociating the barbed wire fencing to the side of the gate, we were on our way along the gravel and dirt path. We were somewhat apprehensive to say the least. The thought of a stray bullet at any time twanging into the path beside us made our progress somewhat more urgent.
We had the sense that someone did not really want people to visit the memorial!
The atmosphere along the path, which wound its way through a pine forest, was ominous and a little strange to say the least.
Then, some fifteen minutes later, after several turns and after negotiating obstacles along the way (a mound of earth dug across the path in one place with barbed wire on its right flank), we finally made it to the air crash memorial site.
I admitted to Kris that I felt a little uncomfortable. I usually enjoy a trip through a forest, but there was a real sense of weirdness and being watched on this trail. The pine forest was silent ... and there was some 'undertone' here which could not be described. It was odd.
The crash site heralded very 'psychic' feelings for us both. At a certain point we both felt light headed. There was a real feeling of an 'energy barrier' around a particular spot. There was a real 'paranormal' feel to the atmosphere here. Very strange.
Kris had a visitation ... she'd been drawn to looking on the ground to her left and seen the letter 'H' written on the ground. She'd then turned to the memorial plaque with the name Henry in her mind. It was then no surprise to her that one of those killed in the crash was a Henry.
I'd the very strong sense of a figure in pilot uniform standing to my left. An awareness too of something otherworld to the place.
In a way it was a relief to leave the crash site behind. However, now that we've found the site ... we have every intention of revisiting the site at a later date to sample more of its weird atmosphere ....
