TRAGEDIES OF THE AIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19999, 16 July 1928, Page 11

TRAGEDIES OF THE AIR.

DISASTER NEAR CROYDON.

PLANE CRASHES IN FLAMES.

FOUR OCCUPANTS KILLED.

GIRL TYPISTS' FATAL RIDE.

Australian Press Association—United Service LONDON. July 13. Disaster overtook a Vickevs-Vulcan baggage aeroplano belonging to Imperial Aiiways, Ltd., during a test llight at Croydon. The machine crashed in flames and four of the occupants were killed, including Captain Hall, tho company's inspection director, and two girl typists. Two others, including the pilot, Captain Stafford, were injured. Tho crash is tho most serious suffered by Imperial Airways, Ltd., for several years. Except for Captain Hall, all thoso killed were employees at the aerodrome. The two girls were tho most popular typists on the staff, who were being given a little joy-ride. The machine was quickly seen to be in difficulties. It nose-dived with a tilt anrl crashed in a hedge in a field near the aerodrome. Captain Stafford and another seriously injured man climbed out. Then the machino immediately burst into flames. Hundreds of people ran to tho spot to try to extricate tho passengers, but they were tragically helpless. They could not approach within 10yds. of tho inferno. Tho machine was last used at the weekend in tho test carried out in tho endeavour to solve the Loewenstein mystery, when a' party of journalists were ■ on» board. A British official wifeless message says (lie machine was not one of the regular air liners, but a small single-engined biplane. It was occasionally used for conveying excess freight. NEW JERSEY FATALITY. MEXICAN AIRMAN KILLED. PLANE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. Australian Press Association—United Service (Received July 15, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK. July 11. A well-known Mexican airman, Captain Emilio Carranza, was killed when his machine crashed near Mount nolly, New Jersey. He was attempting to make a non-stop flight from New York to Mexico City. He took off yesterday, and his body was found in a pine forest. Captain Carranza was known as tho " Mexican Lindbergh." It transpires that lightning struck his plane. His body was found by a berry picker. Captain Carranza had recently been received in Washington as the official "goodwill " envoy of the Mexican Government. He had been lavishly entertained and was paid glowing tributes by the American papers. Tho deceased had expressed a desire at the time of his departure to return to Mexico Cifv to his bride of less than a month.