GREAT AIR CONTEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 1 October 1936, Page 9

GREAT AIR CONTEST

HALSE CRASHES WHEN LEADING NECK-AND-NECK RACE C. W. A. SCOTT’S CHALLENGE (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received October 1, 11.55 a.m. JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 30. After leading all day by some hours in the British air race from rmgland to Johannesburg, Captain Halse crashed this evening at Bomshawo, about 2U miles from Salisbury and only 685 miles from bis goal. He was not seriously injured, but bruises on the head necessitated his entering Salisbury Hospital. He was also completely exhausted. The extent of Ihe damage to the machine is at present unknown, hut Halse has withdrawn from the race. The struggle for the first place now lies between C. W. A. Scott, the Centenary race winner (with the late T. Campbell Black) and L. Llewellyn. They were flying neck and neck until the morning, but then took different routes. Scott was last heard of at 2.20 p.m., when he left Kisumu. He is expected to reach Broken Hill this evening-. Llewellyn passed over Entebbe this afternoon and was reported subsequently to be going well. The day’s outstanding surprise was the news that Smith was still participating. He left Skoplje, but was again dogg-ed by illrluck and made a forced landing twenty miles outside of Salonika. He says he is resuming after effecting repairs.

TOLL OF THE RACE. Halse arrived at Mbeya .(Rhodesia) at noon (British standard time) and left at 12.10 p.m. for Salisbury. Halse was not feeling well a.nd said he might land at Mpika or Broken Hill for a rest. Ho was delayed at Mbeya longer than ho had anticipated owing to magneto trouble. During his enforced, wait Halse made every effort to rest and shake off the feeling of wea.riness and sickness due to the humpy conditions. Later came the report of his crash near Salisbury. TROUBLE WITH INSTRUMENTS. Halse, in an interview, said: “My instruments gave trouble for the greater part of the day. I was unable to find Salisbury. Stability and visibility were bad from the smoke of numerous veldt fires. Having only five minutes’ daylight left, I decided. to land and selected a suitable field, but when slowing up the machine struck an ant heap and overturned.” Halse’s arm, which was dislocated, was set under an anaesthetic. He is now sleeping. Other reports say the machine was completely smashed. Halse was the first to reach Kisumu (Kenya) and had a good lead. At one stage he was six hours ahead of C. W. A. Scott. Halse, who is the instructor to the Johannesburg. Aero Club, took 360 minutes from Cairo to Khartoum, as compared with Scott’s 367 minutes

and Llewellyn’s 420. He covered the 4367 miles to Kisumu in 24 hours 23 minutes. Scott and D. Llewellyn arrived at Khartoum at 5.45 a.m. and left together at 6 a.m. Scott arrived at Kisumu at 2 p.m. (British eastern standard time) and departed twenty minutes later. Llewellyn passed over Entebbe at 2.15 p.m. (British eastern time), en route for Mpika. CLOUSTON’S ILL-FORTUNE. The New Zealander, Flying-Officer A. Clouston, landed at Kisumu at 2.45 a.m., local time, and complained of engine trouble. It appeared that he had run a bearing and it was doubtful whether he would be able to continue. Halse was thus able to get a valuable break. Later an Italian 'plane took a spare piston to Clouston. M. Findlay and K. Waller landed at Kerma, 325 miles from Khartoum, with their petrol exhausted. They later left for Khartoum, which they reached. AUSTRALIAN EVENT. BRISBANE TO ADELAIDE. Received October 1, 11.35 a.m. ADELAIDE, Oct. 1. Forty entries have been received for the South Australia Centenary air race, from Brisbane to Adelaide in December. Nominations closed last evening, hut more telegraphic entries may be received.