ITALIAN AIR ARMADA

Evening Star, Issue 20687, 9 January 1931, Page 9

ITALIAN AIR ARMADA

THE TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT FIVE MEN KILLED WHEN TWO PLANES CRASH Press Association—By Telegraph—Copy right. ROME, January 8. The rejoicing over the success of the seaplanes has been turned into sorrow by the receipt of news from Bolama disclosing that five of the Atlantic flyers were hilled and three injured when two of the machines were taking off and were forced down owing to the heavy loads of fuel and necessaries required for ocean flights. Oue took fire, and the commander, a lieutenant, a sergeant, and a wireless officer were burnt to death. A float was damaged on the other machine, in which a sergeant-major was killed and three were slightly injured. THIRD MACHINE LOST CREW PICKED UP BY SHIP. ROME, January 8. (Received January 9, at 10 a.m.) General Balbo, reporting to Signor Mussolini, emphasises the poor visibility at the start, but declares that it was necessary to utilise the moonlight because the forecast did_ not promise an improvement. The airmen, before starting, donned black shirts. The load on each machine, 10,0001 b, was heavy for taking off, oven in clear weather. Captain Donadelli and Lieutenant Deucci, reserve aeroplanists, received last-minute permission to accompany the flight. General Valle, who was detained for ninety minutes, flew over the Atlantic solo and overtook his companions near the Brazilian coast. The obscurity of the sky during the first six hours necessitated the squadron navigating by instruments. The roll was called at dawn beyond Bolama, when ten answered. Recagno’s and Boer’s machines did not pass Bolama, the former crashing and taking fire on taking off, the crew being saved. Boer’s machine crashed and caught fire and disappeared with all hands, probably owing to a short circuit. A broken radiator caused Bistrocchi’s machine to alight on the ocean, and a scout ship picked up the occupants. General Balbo recalls predicting the loss of three machines as the possible outcome of the flight.