AIRMAN DIVES TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20985, 23 September 1931, Page 6

AIRMAN DIVES TO DEATH.

SCHNEIDER PILOT KILLED, i CRASH OF THE S6 MACHINE. ! COURAGEOUS FLIER'S FATE. * i'l [FROM ODB OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON-. Aug. 21. Lieutenant Gerald L. Brinton, R.N., the "baby" of Britain's Schneider Trophj team, met his death on August 18 wher the S6 super-marine seaplane, which won the 1929 race for Britain, plunged into the waters of the Solent. The accident occurred about 2J, miles off Calshot, about 8 p.m. The team had waited all day for the chance of practice flights. At last the water seemed all right. Brinton went out to the S6. He took off, but it seemed a Ijong time before the machine lifted. The force of the wind had fallen below 9 m.p.h., and the S6 had to make its own speed for the take-off. It came up reluctantly, sank again to make a trail of foam with its floats, lifted again, and then sat down a little heavily on the water. This threw it up well clear, and'lt was hoped it might have flying speed to keep it up, but it settled down once more. The machiue was still, apparently, on an even keel, but it was instantly flung up into the air again, far higher than before, with its nose well up and the airscrew turning at full speed to accentuate the tendency to climb' and the dangerous altitude. For a second or two it hung in the air 20ft or 30ft above the water. Then it tilted to the starboard and . plunged, still with its right wing down. As it struck the water at that angle the floats were torn off. Not long afterwards they came to the top, but not to mark the place where the main part of the wreckage had gone to the bottom. This heavier part had retained the impetus of the machine's forward speed and ploughed its way on through the water for nearly 100 yds before it came to rest Exhibition of Gallantry. For a fraction of a second everyone on shore or afloat was stunned. Then came the realisation that Brinton, even if he had survived the impact, was a prisoner in the submerged cockpit, held fast by the belt intended, in other circumstances, to ensure his safety. Then followed a memorable exhibition of gallantry. From R.A.F. sea craft, which had raced to the scene of the mishap, dived three figures with ropes round their waists. They swam toward the floats, now rising and falling gently with the waves. One of ,the swimmers was FlyingOfficer Snaith, one of the Schneider team; another was Flight-Lieutenant Casaldini; a third was Aircraftsman Candy. FlightLieulenant Casaldini, who was driving one of the motor-boats attending the . machine, saw the S6 strike the water and bounce into the air. With a cry of "He's down," he threw oft his tunic and dived into the water Squadron-Leader Orlebar, who commands the team, also flung aside his tunic in readiness to go to the rescue. Reaching the plane, the three swimmers dived in an endeavour to release Brinton from the safety belt which held him prisoner. Body Found in Fuselage. Eventually it was reported that the cockpit was empty, and it was believed that Brinton had been washed away. A line was fastened to the machine to prevent it from sinking, and Royal Air Force pinnaces towed it shorewards. Watch was kept all night over the spot where the machine had crashed in readiness for a search for the body in the morning, but when daylight came one of the mechanics looked into the cockpit of thi wreckage, and behind it, huddled tightly in the narrow shell of the fuselage, was the dead pilot. As soon as the discovery was made, chisels and hacksaws were applied to the metal frame. Within half an hour the body of Lieutenant Brinton was lifted 00l tenderly and taken away. Preliminary examinations show that the young officei was stunned by the first impact of hi! swift machine when it struck the sea, and crushed to death almost instantly at he was jammed into the tail by the terrific force of the water. "Remarkably Good Airman." Flight-Lieatenant Brinton's first lov( was for the sea. He was a lieutenant in the Navy, serving in H.M.S. Hood befor« being transferred to the Fleet air-arm. H« was the first member of this arm to b« singled out for the high-speed flight, and it was regarded as almost certain that he would fly in the race. "He was a remarkably good airman," a friend remarked. "He had superb judgment and wonderful nerve, and was overjoyed when he able to join the team." Brinton's courage, too, was of th« stoutest. Once a comrade was trapped in a burning aeroplane. Heedless of danger, Lieutenant Brinton made a gailanl attempt to save him, and was specially thanked by the Air Council. He was only 26, and a boyish appearance that made him look not more than 20. . , Lieutenant Brinton's home was at Kidderminster, where he lived with his mother, the widow of a woollen manufacturer, and an elder brother. His father died last year. He had also two sisters, of whom lives in London. This tragedy is the eighth which has befallen airmen engaged in the highspeed Schneider contest. In addition, two other British Schneider Trophy pilots have lost their lives in fatal crashes in other circumstances.