LOVE-SICK AIRMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

LOVE-SICK AIRMAN.

AEROPLANE ESCAPADE CLIMAX

By borrowing without permission a service aeroplane to see his fiancee, Mr. Hugh Forbes-Gower, late R.A.F., lost his job but gained a bride. The man, who two years ago startled Paignton by his daring antics in the air, was married at All Saints' Church, Whetstone, England, recently, to the pretty girl for whom he made his reckless dash. She is, or rather, was, Miss Joan Dare, of Whetstone, Middlesex. In August, 1928, just after her engagement, Miss Daro was on holiday at Paignton. Her future husband was a pilot at a nearby R.A.F. headquarters.. Fired with love, but temporarily forgetful of Service regulations, ho determined to seo her, so ho took " French leave " arid a Bristol fighter and spt off on a " flying " visit to his beloved.

Ovorjoyed with a bird's-eye-view of the town whore his brido-to-bo was slaying, Mr. Forbes-Gower began a series of thrilling spiral loops over tho beach of tho famous holiday Ho delighted thousands of holiday-makers, but suddenly came to grief. In attempting a double loop ho accomplished the first but found himself too near tho sea to finish the second. . Making for an opening between the. houses lining the front, the airman just cleared tho roof of tho Gaiety Cafe, but tho undercarriage of his machine struck a 30ft. flagstaff. He landed safely on tho hills at the back of tho town. He afterwards left the service. Tho bridegroom had another thrilling dash on his wedding day, when he found that he had arrived at the church without tho marriage licence. He had to go to St. John's Wood for it, and owing to traffic congestion got back to Whetstone only five minutes before 3 o'clock, after which % hour wedding ceremonies cannot be performed.