THE MOLLISONS

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1936, Page 5

THE MOLLISONS

AMY CRASHES A Domestic Quarrel RUMOURS .PARTLY DENIED. (Aus & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 20. Amy Mollison left Lc Bourget, flying here Peachcraft machine, but crashed in a held near the Chelssield railway station, twelve miles from Croydon. A lorry driver, witnessing the accident, dashed to the plane and got Amy from underneath the machine. She was unhurt, but is sufiering from shock. (Received October 21, at 7.50 p.m.) LONDON. October 20. With her nose fractured and her shoulder injured, together with sundry bruises and cuts. Amy Aloll’.son was inteviewed at the home of a local doctor. near the scene of her crash. iShe said: “Fog developed over the Channel and became so dense that I did not see the English Coast until I was actually over it. After half an hour of almost blind flying. 1 circled, seeking Croydon over a radius of ten miles, but there was no sign of it. T had noticed a field marked by a white road, and decided, as it was getting dark, to land there. “After my third attempt I came down in the field and put on the brakes in order- to avoid the houses. Then everything went topsy-turvey. I suppose the wheels hit a rut. and the ’plane went over on its hack. I had already switched off the engine, but had not to turn off the petrol. I could not open the door of the cabin, but men appeared and dragged me ou t.” Amy Johnson Again ! NOW PLYING UNDER MAIDEN NAME. (Received October 21. at 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. Amy, in a statement to the press said: ’ “I have been hearing rumours in connection with my domestic life. Even to-day I have been asked if this crash is in any way connected with the rumours concerning my estrangement with my husband. I should like to take this opportunity to say that Jim and I have amicably decided in future to go our own ways. I am' continuing my flying career under my maiden name.”

“Married Happiness Spoilt” AMY’S STATEMENT. (Received October 21. at 8.15 p.m.) LONDON October 21. Airs Amy Alollison told the “Daily Alail”: “I tell you frankly that much of our married ' happiness has been spoilt by rumours of differences, not. only since our wedding, but every day since we became engaged, every little thing we did was noted. If one happened to be somewhere without the other, rumours got abroad that we had broken our engagement. These so upset us that we once seriously con-s-'dered breaking the engagement. Anvhow. Jim and I had a serious talk and decided to get married just to show the gossipers they were wrong. But we did not succeed. They still went on saying we were unhappily married and that we actually parted months ago. Every innocent move we made has been misconstrued.”

Mollison’s Solo Flight

ACROSS ATLANTIC. (Received October 21, at 8.20 p.m.) NEW YORK. October 20. James Mollison landed here yesterday. preparatory to attempting a solo flight to London. He says that he hopes to depart in a 1,000. h.p., Bellanea Monoplane, with a cruising speed of 240 miles per hour, on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, weather permitting. He’expects to make one stop at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. FRENCH AIR RACE. ONLY THREE COMPETE. PARIS, October 20. Three Frenchmen are the only likely starters in the Paris-Saigon-Paris air race, starting at 6 a.m. on October 25. The competitors are Andre Jafy and Arnoux, flying a Caudron Coeland plane; Leonciialle-Bril and Henry, with a similar plane; and Michael Detroyat and Agnus, flying a Brequet Fulger plane. There is one British entry, but he is unlikely to start. When the race was first planned, in 1934. it was regarded as a preliminary test for the round-the-world race in 1937. These planes are at present shelved. RUGBY. October 20. Arrangements have been completed by the Air Ministry for the erection of six Government-owned factories for the production of additional Air Force equipment, and rhe erection of factories has begun. Firms which have undertaken the erection and management of the factories for the Air Ministry are the Austin Motor Company. Bristol Aeroplane Company, Daimler Company Rootes Rover Company, and the Standard Motor Company. A “SHADOW” SCHEME. LONDON, October 20. Tn connection with the arrangements made by the Air Ministry fo-' the ereet'on of six Government-owned factories fo r the production of additional Air Force equipment, the factories will constitute ai “shadow” scheme, '[’he Air Ministry plan to use the engines produced ‘n them to supplement normal supplies in connection with the Air Force expan'-ion. The factories will be closed when needs arc met. and will be re-openr d only for immediate operation should a war situation develop. Of rhe moto r firms which have undertaken the erection and mnnagernent of factories for the Air Ministry, the Wolseley Motor Company, which Lord Nuffield controls, originally participated in the scheme, but withdrew. Wolseley’s are clos'ng their aero engine factory at Birmingham, refusing a substantinl order for Scipio engines, which was offered, apart from the “shadow” scheme. It is expected that Lord Swinton

will make a statement on the subject, when Parliament re-assembles, including a reference to Wolseley's, whose place has been taken by Bootes Securities, Limited, which control Hillman. Eumbers, and others. The “News-Caroniele” understands that Wolseley’s withdrew owing to Lord Nuffield disagreeing wth the working of the Goveinincnl’s contract system.” He was willing to agree to the contract price, hut would not allow Government o“Ti-.ls to supervise proauction. He turned down an order for 309 Scorpio -ngines. T 1 e Singer Motor Company also withdrew.

N.Z. GOVERNMENT PLANES. LOAN TO CLUBS. WELLINGTON, October 20. Arrangements are being male by the Government for the early purchase of three first-iclass aeroplanes for loan to New Zealand areo clubs. There is a possibility that a fourth machine may be acquired after negotiations "with the clubs. The Alinister for Defence (Hon. F. Jones) said , in an interview to-day, that provision had been made in the estimates for the purchase of aircraft for loan to aero clubs, which already had done good work in the training of New Zealand pilots. It had been the intention of the Government to acquire four aeroplanes, but at the time the vote was passed by Parliament the type of machine to he obtained had not been determined.

“On going into the question,” said the Minister, “we found that the Moth type was not being manufactured and after consultation with expert advisers and the clubs, it was decided that we should obtain the Miles Hawk trainer, which is considered to be the best type for training pilots. The cost of this machine, however, is such that the sum available (£4000) will permit the purchase of three machines only. These are being obtained as soon as possible, but it is hoped that an arrangement will be come to by which' a fourth Miles Hawk trainer .will be acquired.