MR. BROOK CRASHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 13

MR. BROOK CRASHES

*» ACCIDENT IN EGYPI AEROPLANE WRECKED (Received July 19, 12.15 a.m.) CAIRO. July 18 Mr. H. L. Brook, who left Lympne, England, early this morning on an attempt to make a record flight to Capetown, crashed at Mersa Matruh, on the north coast of Egypt. The airman was not injured, but his machine wa3 completely wrecked. Lack of petrol compelled him to land at Mersa Matruh. He failed to locate the aerodrome in the darkness and descended a quarter of a mile away.

Mr. H. L. Brook first came into prominence in 1933 when he attempted to fly solo to Australia from England. On that occasion, through ice forming on his aeroplane, he was forced down in the south of France. He escaped serious injury, but his machine was wrecked with the exception of the engine, which was fitted into his next aeroplane. Accompanied by Miss E. M. Lay, of Bognor, in a Miies Hawk, Mr. Brook competed in the Melbourne Centenary race in October, 1934. They were held up for days at Athens with a broken propeller, and, when they resumed their flight, almost lost their lives in a cyclone over the Timor Sea. They

arrived at Darwin nearly 27 days after the start of the race. On March 23, 1935, Mr. Brook left Darwin in his machine for England. Ho had to descend on the delta near Calcutta, but his aeroplane was not damaged. Botween Athens and Rome he had to 'fight » terrific gale and flew over the Apennines in a snowstorm. He had b<?en advised at Itrindisi not to go on. He landed at Lympuc, Kent, after a flight of 7 days 19 hours 50 minutes. He had broken Mr. J. A. Mollison's official solo record from Australia by 1 day 2 hours 25 minutes, and Mr. C. J. Melrose's unofficial solo time by 13 hours. Mr. Brook was so deaf from the roar of his engine that when he arrived he could not hear the cheers of the crowd, but he was feeling fit, having Jiad five hours' sleep each day.