AIR DISASTERS

Evening Star, Issue 22414, 11 August 1936, Page 9

AIR DISASTERS

FATAL CRASH AT CRCYDON MSHT-FLYINfi BIPLANE HITS HOUSES P»— Awocittioa—By TeUgnph—Copyrifkl. LONDON, August 10. Xb. Imperial Airways twin-engined biplane, the Vellox, crashed behind a tow of houses after bouncing off roofs while taking off from Croydon at 2.15 a.m. to-day. The crew—namely, an Anrtralian, Captain Miles Fergusson, second pilot Captain J. Orr, first pilot Atbncklc, and wireless operator Dear were killed. The bodies were recovered terribly mutilated, the clothes being burned off. The machine, which was fitted with the latest devices, including night flying and blind flying apparatus and *n automatic pilot, carried no passengers. It was engaged in an experimental night freight service between London and Paris. Aw eye-witness saw the plane flying low and heard a loud report, after which the lights were extinguished and the engines cut out. It appeared to (turn, presumably to return to the aerodrome, and rapidly lost height. A wing touched a chimney, and the machine spun and crashed, shattering windows, and burst into flames which leapt 50ft into the air, setting fire to two houses. Tbo machine was badly damaged. The street was packed with watchers, but rescue attempts were impossible owing to the intense heat. Fire engines fought the flames for an - hour before recovering the first body. Orr had been operating the experimental service for two months. Ferguason, who was making his first trip, waa one of six Imperial Airways pilots recently awarded a first class air navigator’s certificate, -the highest honour air navigation. CRASH INTO SEA TWO AIR FORCE OFFICERS KILLED. LONDON, August 10. Two officers were killed when a Pegham machine belonging to 604 Auxiliary Squadron of the R.A.F., based at Tangmere, crashed into the sea.