WITHOUT WHEELS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23505, 20 May 1938, Page 16

WITHOUT WHEELS

PILOT MAKES LANDING FIVE R.A.F. MEN ESCAPE Five airmen, involved in two Royal Air Force crashes, escaped serious injury, although one of the aeroplanes was burned out. When the engine of his machine suddenly cut out at 1000 feet, Pilot-Officer Devoto, of the 218th Fighter Squadron. stationed at Upper Heyford. Oxford. prepared to make a forced landing in a field at Little Dunmow, Essex. The retractable undercarriage of the aeroplane could not be released and the pilot had to bring the machine down without the use of the landing wheels. He accomplished this without injury to himself or his wireless operator, although the machine ploughed its way for 40 yards along the rough ground, smashing the propeller and undercarriage. In the second crash a pilot and two other men were involved. They were taking part in night exercises when their aeroplane crashed into a belt of trees on the edge of Finningley Aerodrome, near Doncaster. The machine plunged to the ground. One of the men was thrown clear and the other two were dragged from the wreckage by two men from a farm. Shortly afterwards the aeroplane burst into flames and was destroyed. The three occupants suffered only shock and bruises.