Sensational Crash

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6519, 7 April 1931, Page 12

Sensational Crash

NOSE-DIVE INTO GARDEN TWO AVIATORS INJURED A drama of real life interrupted the production of a film drama entitled “The Flying Fool” when an aeroplane crashed into the garden of a house at Brixton, a suburb of London, on February 2. The machine was one of three engaged to depict an aeroplane chase through fog over the English Channel. It contained Mr. S. Rodwell, a cinematograph operator, and Mr. R, Y. Bush, the pilot, who were both injured. The three aeroplanes were flying from Hatfield to Croydon to make certain shots for the film. One of them contained a party of actors, the second, Captain Summers, the director of the film, and the third the two injured men. The noise of the machines as they manoeuvred in and out of the clouds over Brixton attracted the attention of people on the ground. Mrs. Mabel Wilding, who lives near the spot at which the machine crashed, said that she noticed one of the machines particularly because of the unusual sound of the engine. “I was hanging out the washing at the time,” she said, “and hearing the peculiar noise, watched the aeroplane for some time. Suddenly it swooped dow T n toward cur house and I thought it would crash into the roof, but it just skimmed over the top, and ploughed its way through two garden walls, eventually capsizing with a crunching noise in the next garden. “I and many other neighbours schambled over the garden walls and debris to rescue the occupants. I saw Mr. Rodwell crawl out and helped him to rescue the pilot, who was badly injured.” Eye-witnesses of the crash emphasised the good fortune of hundreds of people residing in the neighbourhood or shopping in the busy streets near by, many of whom escaped death by only a few yards. Captain Summers and the occupants of tho other aeroplane immediately landed and rushed to tho assistance of the occupants of tho wrecked aerphtne. After having ascertained that everything possible had been done for tho pilot and operator, Captain Summers ascended again with another camera man to retake tho scenes which had been filmed.