CRASH OF BOMBER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 129, 4 June 1927, Page 9

CRASH OF BOMBER

FOUR MEN KILLED

MISHAP WHEN TAKING OFJ*

-I (From "The Post's" Representative.)

-* ' ' '••;■■."■■ LONDON, 23rd April. Two officers, a non-commissioned of:fleer, and an aircraftsman were killed bi an'accident to a bombing plane this week' at Eastehurch, Kent. The names of the victims are:—Plying Officer William James KeUy (piolt), Pilot Officer .John Frederick Dowdeswell; No. 134,932 ; Albert George Alder|on;.No. 557,290 Aircraftsman Everett Daniels. All ; four belonged to No. 9 (Bombing) : Squadron stationed at Man»ton, near Basmgate. v ...The tragedy, occurred shortly before vßiid-day.l^ho pilot brought the machine from Manston to Eastchureh in the morning for bombing tests, and, ihaving carried out target practice, he Janded at-Eastchiirch Aerodrome. After spending: a couple of hours there Mr. -Kelly had • the machine refuelled and rstested-and then took off or the re-turn-to Manston. While racing across the aerodrome in his rush to gather flying speed,'he collided with a stationary. D.H. 8a machine, on which mechanics were at work. The lower offside wing of the Vicers Virginia machine ■was damaged when it struck the outer struts of the D.H; 9a.

„ 116I 16 pilot, however, did not' seem to realise that his machinehad been damaged, and continued to rise. He had reached a;heigh.t of about 200 feet, and was attempting to turn against the wind, thus gaining advantage of the pressure of the wind to increase his height, when the aileron of the aeroplane jammed and refused to bo operated by the "joy-stick." The pilot found himself in difficulties, lost flying speed, and nose-dived. He' struck the ground, at more than 100 miles an hour, digging a trench in the soft earth more than-two feet deep. Both petrol tanks, each containing seventy-five gallons of petrol, exploded, and: burst into flames.. Mechanics-saw the' tragedy, but the machine was reduced to a mass of cinders and bent and twisted ironwork before they could reach the spot.

EVIDENCEi' AT INQUEST,

, A verdict of "Accidental Death" was recorded at the inquest. „ Alan Profeit ( Bett stat,ed that he was standing on the aerodrome in front of the Virginian machine. As it came towards him and liegan to rise the right wing struck the leftwing of a stationary machine. .: "I should-say it was an error of Judgment," ho said, in reply to the Coroner. "The collision carried away ,two struts on the left wing of the stationary aeroplane," he continued. "I noticed a strut on the Tickers machine hanging down after the impact. The "collision caused the Vickers machine to swing to the right. It was then elimbirig, and the pilot appeared to jon^hue to. climb. Ho throttled back ni«'engine, and his right wing dropped, 'Causing the machine to assume a vertical position, and nose-dive to the ground. That was at a height of about 100. feet."

:..The/Coroner: "Was the throttling 'down of the machine the right thing to. do in your judgment!"—"lt is a 'matter., of opinion. I do not think I w.ould have done it under similar conditions,, unless the machine was out of control. But nobody can say whether "this machine was out of control."

I'.''■"'What would have been the object tit: throttling back the engine?"—"if jour machine is;out of control it is not much, use continuing to fly blindly." ..■ : ,Th§,;Coroner: "Do you think that is thought—that he was going 'to crash and wanted to minimise it M; much as possible f — '' Yes."

The Coroner: "If the strut was carried away what effect would that have on.- the controls?—"lt could have jammed-the controls." -

: Pilot-Officer Bett added that the ma*Mne burst into flames immediately •fter it struck theground. •'The Coroner: ?'Was there plenty of jobm for the' Viekers machine to ■ pass the stationary aeroplane?"■—" Yes." ■■'■■''• Pr. H. H. E. Bayley, of the Aerodrome. 1 Hospital, said the death of the men was due to the force of the fall •ad not to burning.— ■

85," Fleet street.