PHANTOM PLANE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 11

PHANTOM PLANE

A NEWSPAPER'S STORY

A night-flying "phantom plane" which has been worrying nervous Londoners as it zoomed over the city may be in charge of a Royal Air Force officer, it is reported.

The "Sunday Express," in a frontpage story under a banner-line, said that an unknown person telephoned the newspaper office: ■>

"I- am the mystery flyer they are searching for. lam an officer on leave, making the flight for the purpose of showing how vulnerable London is to air attack and how inadequate is our defence.

"I have taken off nightly from North London aerodrome without attempting secrecy. On a Friday night I was pursued by three unlit planes which could not catch me, although my machine was not fast. But I am a proficient flyer. My flight over Hendon aerodrome demonstrated that enemy aircraft could even bomb the approach to the main R.A.F. station without hindrance. I have now been recalled to my station, but promise a grand finale."

The "Express" reporter asked proof of the identity of the voice, but the party at the other end of the line refused, although he said he would meet the reporter at the telephone booth. The reporter met the uniformed man there and was told of the stunt. The flyer told the reporter he had planned to drop four bombs on St. Paul's, the Houses of Parliament, and the Air Ministry, to show how easy it was. The flyer gave his name confidentially to the reporter, who called the air station and was informed that a man of that name was on leave.