AUCKLAND AIRMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20641, 13 August 1930, Page 8

AUCKLAND AIRMAN

TWO CRASHES IN FfiAN£E ■"/: . , • . AMBITION TO FLY AGAIN. / RETURN OF MR. PARKERSON. Bearing scars from the injuries he ;<y. ceived when his aeroplane crashed twic» in France on his recent attempted flight from England to Australia, Mr. C. P. Parkerson, of Auckland, returned by the Maunganui yesterday. He is still as keen on flying as ever and expressed an ambition to fly from New Zealand to Eng. •Jand. _ describing his experiences. Mr. Parker* * son said he went to England last March on business. He learned to fly at the Cinque Ports Flying Club and it was then that he conceived the idea of flying to Ailsjiaiia. He purchased a D.H. GipsyModi and engaged in several cross-county flights to gain experience, especially of bijnd flying. Owing to the heavy fogs that frequently covered th« country like a received all th« practice lie required andiSOon became skilful in the art. . "I just; thought I would like to fly home; that is all," said Mr. ! "My plane let me down seven times, however, five of which were when T was landing in England. The other two occasions were when I crashed in France." Mr. Parkerson started on his first attempt on March 27. "I always • had trouble with the engine," he said, "It would run for an hour, or two and then - l become heated. That happened near Arque." The machine somersaulted a* it came down, but as the pilot was strapped in he did not fall out. Repairs ! were effected at Le Bourget and Mr. Parkerson flew back to England to make a. fresh start.

The second attempt was made on April 21. He crossed the English Channel and was over France, when, after two hours' flying, his engine burst into flames'as he was trying to mount a fog bank. "My face was badly burned and I managed to turn off the petrol supply, 'but I could do nothing else," he said. The machine came down in a side-slip and crashed to the ground, after spinning and making several sharp turns. " I have 110 idea how I got out," said Mr. Parkerson. " All the petrol tanks burst and my flying suit caught on five and was burijed from the heels to the neck. I was very lucky, for I had forgotten to strap myself in and that saved me from being burned to death. People came running up about ten minutes after the crash and I was still''"'conscious, although my light eye was scorched and I could not see out of it." ■ - . The French people were extremely hospitable and during the five days.that Mr. Parkerson remained/in a small village recovering from the shock every kindness was shown .to him. He was still unable to see when he returned to England and was five weeks under medical treatment while staying with friends at, High Wycombe/ As soon as he was well he tried his hand again at .flying and was pleased to find lie had not lost "his nerve. There could be no thought of a third attempt, 'however, so he returned by sea i to New Zealand.