Despite the fact that a Hudson is misreported as a Lodestar (a rose by any other name) this is how Brisbane's Courier-Mail reported an incident in 1954, even identifying the aeroplane by name and registration. It also reminds us of a time when it was considered chivalrous to compliment a lady.
Wheel Collapse in Landing
Pilot's skill averts injury
A pilot's skilful handling of his plane probably saved the lives of nine people at Brisbane Airport yesterday. A Lockheed Lodestar's (sic) starboard wheel assembly collapsed as it was landing about noon. The plane careered 50 yards with one wing dragging on the tarmac. It slewed across the runway, spun on to another runway and came to rest facing in the opposite direction to that in which it had been travelling.
Within two minutes the pretty, auburn-haired hostess, Miss Claire Bailey, had shepherded the plane's six passengers out of the cabin.
A Civil Aviation spokesman said that the pilot (Captain Ron Walesby) had done an excellent job in bringing the plane to rest. The plane, "Cathedral City" (VH-EWB), is owned by East-West Airlines, a company with headquarters in Tamworth. It had flown from Tamworth via Glen Innes and brought six passengers and a crew of three to Brisbane. Mr. J.D. Maclean, an eye-witness, said the wheel assembly seemed to collapse as the tail was beginning to drop.
Passengers did not know what had happened and were not alarmed. "I thought we had a flat tyre." one man said. The chairman of East-West Airlines (Mr. D. Shand) who was in Brisbane, said only superficial damage had been done to the plane. He refused to release the names of passengers and crew-members on the plane.
The plane, which was due in Brisbane at 10.55 am, was delayed by fog at Tamworth earlier in the morning. It was scheduled to take-off for Glen Innes at 11.25. It was replaced on the return run by a T.A.A. DC3 which took off at 3.7 pm.
A Civil Aviation spokesman said last night that a Lockheed Lodestar (sic) approached at about 90 knots, but at the end of its run would be doing about 30 knots.
(Source: The Courier-Mail of 21 July 1954)