THREE KILLED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21858, 11 August 1936, Page 11

THREE KILLED

DISASTER NEAR CROYDON AEROPLANE CRASHES ON HOUSES EXPERIMENTAL NIGHT FLIGHT TO PARIS IUXITED PRESS ASSOCIATION COPTRIOiIJ-,,' (Received August 10, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 10. An Imperial Airways twin-en-gined Vickers Vellox biplane crashed behind a row of houses after bouncing off the roofs w i c taking off from Croydon at 2.15 a.m. to-day. The three members of the crew, Captain Miles Fergusson (an Australian, second pilot), Captain J. Orr (first pilot), and Mr Arbuckle (wireless operator), were killed. The bodies wers recovered terribly mutilated. The machine, which was fitted with the latest devices, including night flying and blind flying apparatus, and an automatic pilot, carried no passengers. It was engaged in an experimental night freight service between London and Paris.

An eye-witness saw the aeroplane flying low and heard a loud report, after which the lights went out and the engines cut out. It appeared to tuxm, presumably to return to the aerodrome. The machine rapidly

lost height. The wing touched a chimney and the aeroplane spun round and crashed, shattering the windows of the house. It burst into flames, which leapt 50 feet into the air, setting fire to two houses. The machine was badly damaged. The street was packed with spectators. Rescue attempts were impossible because of the intense heat. Fire engines fought the flames for an hour before recovering the first body. Captain Orr had been operating an experimental service for two months. Captain Fergusson, who was making his first trip, was one of six Imperial Airways pilots recently awarded a first-class air navigator’s certificate, the highest honour in air navigation. CHANNEL ISLANDS CRASH BODIES FOUND ON FRENCH COAST

LONDON, August 9

The British Consul it Cherbourg reports that a seaplane float and three bodies, assumed to be from the wreck of the Cloud of lona, have been washed up at A.nnewlle. between Granville and Carteret, on the French coast.

[A message from London on August 1 stated that an air liner, carrying eight passengers, the pilot, and wireless operator, was missing off the Channel Islands. The machine left Guernsey in bad weather at 7 p.m. and was due at Jersey 20 minutes later. An intensive search was mane, but no trace of the machine or the occupants was found.)

TWO DEATHS IN ROYAL AIR FORCE CRASH

(Received August 11, 12.30 a.m.)

LONDON, August 10,

Two were killed when a Royal Air Force machine crashed in the *ea oil Pagham. The machine belonged to No. 604 Auxiliary Squadron, based at Tangmcre.