FAMOUS PILOT DEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 11

FAMOUS PILOT DEAD.

LIEUTENANT H. R. WAGHORN. SEQUEL TO AIR ACCIDENT. (Received Mny 7, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, Mny 7. The death lias occurred of Flight-Lieu-tenant Waghorn, who was injured when ho landed at Farnborough yesterday by parachute from an aeroplane which crashed and was destroyed.

A cablegram published yesterday staled tliat while living low over Farnborough Common in a galo a Horsley aeroplane crashed. It was piloted by the Schneider Cup race pilot, Flight-Lieutenant li. R. D. Waghorn, who was accompanied by a test pilot, Mr. E. Alexander. The occupants seized parachutes and jumped and wero carried half a mile. Lieutenant Waghorn broke an ankle and his head was injured. which necessitated an operation. Mr. Alexander was cut on the leg. Both men were sent to hospital. The machine landed on the roof of a factory and was smashed.

Lieutenant Waghorn won the Schneider Cup for Britain in the contest of 1929. Ho was born in Kensington, London, in 1904, and educated at Wellington College, Berkshire. In 1922 he became a cadet at tho Air Force College at Cranwell, qualifying for a commission in two years, was posted to No. 17 Squadron. Soon afterwards ho took a courso at tho Central Flying School, secured an instructor's certificate and remained at the school in that capacity. He rapidly developed air "stunting" gifts and the remarkable display of "aerobatics" which he and other officers gave at the Royal Air !orce display in 1927 created a sensation. In February, 1929, he left the flying school to join the High Speed Flight'. He was one of those selected to defend the Schneider Cun in the contest on September 7, 1929. It took place over the Solent between Isle of Wight and tho mainland of Eng-. land on a four-angled course, seven times round, which measured 218j miles. On the day before that fixed for tho contest Lieutenant Waghorn finished his navigability trials and when asked how the machine had behaved said the engine had "popped" once. 'lbis statement caused the engineers to make a thorough examination, and, to their horror, they found one of (he cylinders so badly scored that ;i sustained flight next day would have been impossible. This discovery was made at 2 a.m.—only 12 hours before the race was to start. It was a grim and seemingly hopeless problem, but it, was faced. Five expert, mechanics were found and got out of bed unceremoniously and by 7.30 a.m. the engine was filled with a, new cylinder and running perfectly. With this machine—a Supermarine Rolls-Royce seaplane—Lieutenant. Waghorn made a world's record with an average speed of 3 9 8 miles an hour and won the trophy. In one of his laps he reached a speed of 330 9 miles an hour, but this was beaten bv another British competitor. FlymgOfficer Atoherley, with a record of AW.qy miles. Lieutenant. Waghorn was at, barnborough in connection with the training of the British team for this years Schneider Cup race.