PLUNGE INTO SEA
Miss Spooner Crashes PLUCKY SWIM ASHORE Unlucky Night Flight British wirden. Rugby, December 4. Miss Winifred Spooner, the British airwoman, who, with Flying-Officer Edwards, left Croydon yesterday on an attempt to beat the record flying time to Cape Town, was forced down by engine trouble in the sea off the Italian coast last night. The machine floated, and after a long wait for help Miss Spooner swam two miles through a choppy sea to the shore and roused the inhabitants of the small village of Belmonte. Fishermen rescued Flying-Officer Edwards and towed in the aeroplane. Rome, December 4.
Miss Spooner came down two miles from the shore. The occupants of the machine shouted for assistance for two hours, and then Miss Spooner swam ashore.
Miss.Spooner was traversing the Tyrrhenean Sea by moonlight when engine trouble caused the descent. Luckily the aeroplane floated. The pair sent up flares for two hours, and also constantly shouted, but they were unsuccessful in making themselves heard. The sea was choppy and the current strong, and when Miss Spooner landed she was suffering considerably from cold and exhaustion, and was unable to find anyone. She managed to stumble on a railway station at Belmonte, where she was given first .aid. The station staff aroused some fishermen, who set off to the rescue. They were guided to the aeroplane by the new remaining flares left in the possession of Flying-Officer Edwards. Dawn was just breaking when Flying-Officer Edwards was taken off and the ’plane taken in tow. Miss Spooner was slightly injured on the nose and lips, and Flying-Officer Edwards on the forehead. They are at present guests of the mayor of Belmonte.
An aeroplane has Been sent to Miss Spooner’s assistance by the Italian Air Minister, General Italo Balbo.
Miss Spooner, who became a pilot in 1927, has made a number of historic flights, and has several remarkable escapes. She received (he woman’s trophy of the International League of Aviators in March.
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 62, 6 December 1930, Page 9
Word Count
330PLUNGE INTO SEA Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 62, 6 December 1930, Page 9
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