A FLAMING DEATH.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12439, 4 September 1933, Page 5

A FLAMING DEATH.

FAMOUS ITALIAN AIRMAN.

HUGE ’PLANE CRASHED. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copy rig ht. NEW YORK, September 2. General Francesco de Pinedo, the famous Italian airman, met a flaming death early to-day when his huge ’plane crashed and burned on starting its take-off for Baghdad, which he intended should set a world nonstop distance record. The load of 1027 gallons of gasoline caused the ’plane to swerve from the concrete runway at Lloyd Bennett airport and it hit a fence, in a second it was a roaring mass of flames and the flyer was burned beyond recognition. The attendants tried vainly to pull him out, and Michael Beach, a naval machinist s mate, was badly burned about the face in trying to reach de Pinedo with a fire extinguisher. The body was found beside the metal wreckage. Officials consider he had jumped and attempted to crawl away. The ’plane had covered about 2000 feet of the mile-long concrete runway. Lurching under its load, it refused to rise. One wheel got off the ground, but fell back and ihe ’plane swerved into dirt along the runway. De Pinedo, going at pee haps 100 miles an hour, got it back to the concrete, but it again swerved a moment later and dashed toward a steel wire fence The flyer applied the brakes, but was still travelling at 70 miles an hour when he struck the fence.

The ’plane was elaborately outfitted and had been groomed for weeks by de Pinedo and a technical adviser and his backer, Ugo d’Annunzio, son of Gabriel d’Annunzio.

A VARIED CAREER

SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HIS ’PLANE.

NEW YORK, September 2. A varied career ranging from Italy’s air champion to a virtual c-xile ended tragically and mysteriously as General de Pinedo’s aeroplane crashed to day when, after months cf preparation and delays owing to unfavourable weather, he started on i. trans-Atlantic flight which he had hoped would create a straight-line a i sta nee record.

While aviation circle.*, ana particularly his Italian friends, scoffed at published dispatches from Rome, where it was rumoured de Pinedo might have been motivated by a suicidal impulse, aviation experts who were eye-witnesses of the crasn agreed that his carelessn-s was “curious.”

His manager. Ugo d’Ar.nvnzio, ‘-on of the poet, is grief-stricken ar.d mystified. Through his tears he said: “He must have forgotten all he knew 7 about flying. When the ’plane starts to sig-zag, everyone knows that the further you go the worse the zigzagging becomes ” He referred to the fact that before the crash the ’plane wavered on the runway and many watchers were of opinion that de Pinedo should have stopped immediately as a heavilyloaded aeroplane is most difficult to handle m such circumstances.

D’Annunzio offered as an explanation of the crash the fact that *de Pinedo’s protracted idleness had made him restless and ready to stake everything on the craft’s ability to rise. He was so intent on getting eff the ground that he must have forgotten to tin'll off the ignition or dump his gasoline when in trouble. There are many rumours concerning the cause of de Pinedo’s break with the Mussolini Government. They mainly centre around alleged differences with General Balbo and the attention lie paid the King’s daughter, now the Queen of the Bulgarians. It is said that his inactivity in aviation as an attache at the legation at Buenos Aires was most distasteful to him and caused his resignation and determination to attempt a private aviation venture. Despite differences with the Rome Government lie had prepared to iiv ever Rome and drop a marker. Since the announcement of his venture he had remained in eemi-seclu-sion and had frQWHed or publicity respecting the flight. Yesterday few knew lie was prepa ling to start to-day. with the -result that but a handful were present to witness the tragedy. FRENCHMEN PAY TRIBUTE. PARIS. September 2 Codes and Rossi, the holders of the non-stop distance record, are distressed at Genera] de Pi redo’s death, and they pay tribute to his pluck and skill. TORE THROUGH STEEL FENCE. WRECKAGE BURNS FOR TWO HOURS. NEW YORK, September 2. General de Pinedo’s ludicrous costume as lie arrived at the field caused the handful of spectators present to' laugh. He wore a blue lounge suit and grey bowler hat. with a silk muffler around his neck and light 1»1 ue bedroom slippers. He chatted casually w ith the mechanics and attendants, supervised the fuelling and after the motor was tuned, insisted that a gallon or so of petrol had been used and ordered it to be replaced. The extra long runway, from which many heavily laden craft 'have taken off, was extended 800 ft. to provide for the unusual weight of de Pinedo’s monoplane, the Sante Lucia, which

carried over 1000 gallons of fuel, with a total weight of nearly 10,000 pounds.

As he gained momentum down the runway, he appeared to have suffered the common misfortune of losing control of the tail, as the rudder is useless in the interim between the tail leaving the ground and the aeroplane arising in the air. Such circumstances as a side burst of wind, heavy torkue from the engine, or a rough . spot on the runway, are likely to cause disaster. At 1200 feet one of these occurred. One of the wheels left the runway. Instead of halting, de Pinedo managed to regain the runway but 2000 feet later the aeroplane again slewed, and this time de Pinedo was unable to save himself. The aeroplane left, the runway and started across the grass towards the field’s • administration building, sending the spectators scurrying for safety. De Pinedo managed to avoid the structure, but tore through a steel fence. Twenty-five feet further on the craft turned on its side. De Pinedo was plainly seen standing in the cockpit. Tt was possible he was dazed, but be seemed to be making a belated e'ffoi*t to turn off the ignition and prevent an explosion. A man following on a motor cycle with a file extinguisher tried to reach the wreck, but the flames spread so rapidly that he was forced tc retreat with a. badly burned face Do Pinedo’s charred body was removed by firemen, who played water on the wreckage for two hours when nothing was left but the metal fi a me work. Uie specially-built cabin aeroplane vas ingeniously equipped with many devices to prevent over-sleeping, including in automatic alarm clock and 'hose-connected altimeter to throw cold water on his face below a certain altitude.

He carried no raft, depending on empty petrol tanks to keep afloat f necessary. He had a limited supply of food, but- took fishing equipment to supply food if lie came down on the ocean for any length of time.