WINGS OF SOVIET

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 261, 31 July 1929, Page 11

WINGS OF SOVIET

MYSTERIOUS FLIGHT OF RUSSIAN AEROPLANE DISASTROUS END MACHINE WRECKED IN FRANCE (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Australian Press Assn.—United Service. (Rec. July 30, 7 p.m.) London, July 30. The flight of the Russian aeroplane, Wings of Soviet, which was shrouded in mystery, has ended in disaster, the ’plane having crashed and been completely wrecked In France. The crew were not injured. The machine was touring European capitals. When it was announced from Moscow that In response to an Invitation from the Royal Aero Club the Wings of Soviet was visiting London, the club denied it had extended an invitation. Neither the Air Ministry nor the Foreign Ministry had any information about it. Nevertheless the ’plane, after visiting Rome, proceeded to Marseilles and was flying to London when it crashed at Nevers. THIRD CRASH IN BLUE MOUNTAINS MOTH FALLS AND BURSTS INTO FLAMES PILOT BADLY BURNED Sydney, July 30. In addition to the two aeroplanes which were wrecked on the Blue Mountains at the week-end. a third ’plane crashed on the mountains yesterday, when a Moth, flown by Walter Crothers, stalled at a height of 3000 feet in the teeth of a heavy gale. The ’plane circled round until it struck a tree. The machine burst into flames and was destroyed. Crothers was badly burned. FATAL RESULT OF EARLIER i • CRASH (Rec. July 30, 7.35 p.m.) Sydney, July 30. Neil Stewart, who was injured in an aeroplane crash at the Blue Mountains at the week-end, died to-day. Mrs. Stewart is improving. MOTHS COLLIDE THREE AIRMEN KILLED Australian Press Association. London, July 30. Two Moths collided over Kingsbury. Both crashed, one ablaze. Three airmen were killed. ENDURANCE FLIGHT AEROPLANE CRASHES DEATH OF BOTH PILOTS Australian Press Assn. —United Service. Minneapolis, July 29. The Minnesota ’plane Minnesota, trying for the endurance record, crashed on Monday, killing Captain Christian and seriously injuring Owen Haughland, the pilot The machine was in the air 154 hours 40 minutes. (Rec. July 30, 7 p.m.) New York, July 29. A Minneapolis message states that the aviator Haughland died in hospital from his injuries. ST. LOUIS ROBIN STILL FLYING Australian Press Assn.—United Service. St. Louis, July 20. The St Louis Robin had been up 390 hours at 1.17 p.m. NEW WOMEN’S RECORD Australian Press Assn.—United Service. Paris, July 29. On her third attempt Mlle: Maryse Bastie created a new women’s flight endurance record by keeping aloft for 1606 minutes, beating the record of the American, Mrs. Elinor Smith, by 22 minutes. Mlle. Maryse is exceptionally pretty, with a frail look, totally unsuggestive of an air woman. SEQUEL TO SPANISH SEAPLANE’S DRIFT MAJOR FRANCO DEPRIVED OF COMMAND / Australian Press Association. (Rec. July 30, 7 p.m.) Madrid, July 30. An order has been signed depriving Major Franco of his air command. This is the outcome of a controversy between Major Franco and Colonel Kindelan, head of the Spanish Air Force, over the manner in which the recent search was carried out by the Spanish Air Command. [Majo- Franco and two companions attempted to fly in a seaplane from IjO.s Alcazares to New York, via the Azores. A strong north-east wind caused them to pass over the Azores, and they descended to the sea, having run out of petrol. They drifted for several days, and after all hope had been given up in Spain they were rescued by the British aircraft-carrier Eagle.]