LAST STUNT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 5

LAST STUNT

NOTED AIRMAN KILLED, LONDON, June 13. The lloyal Air Force's best-known stunt pilot, Flight-Lieut. \V. H. Longton, while Hying alone in a race at the Bournemouth meeting to-day, collided with a machine piloted by Major L. P. Upenshaw, the test pilot* of the Westland Aircraft Co. (as announced in the Herald recently). Both machines fell in flames.

Longton was killed instantly, his, body being incinerated. Open,shaw died later in hospital.

Longton, who held the A,ir Force Cross, brought down 42 Oerruan 'pianos during the war. tie vvas .flying tp : day his Blue, Bird 'plane, the wings of which were damaged on Uood Friday, when' the artist, Trelawney Reed,, fn'ed at him as, he flew over the la tier's garden. LAST LAV HUKROR Major Openshaw, who married the (laughter of the managing director of the W.A. Company in April, was tl» ing the speedy YYestland Widgeon monoplane with' which ' Airs. Elliot Lynn won her race ou Sunday in such daring fashion.

There were 11 competitors, the race being the first event of the afternoon. During tile last lap the 'planes were living low and turning sharply, the wings almost touching, when Longton, apparently attempting, to pass Opensliaw, dived beneath ' him, the wings interlocked, the 'planes crashed, and tlie next- instant the spectators were horrified to see. a gigantic column of smoke, indicating that the petrol tanks were ablaze.

The other competitors came down, and rushed to the fallen men's aid, while motors speeded from the, racecourse to the scene. Some, farm laborers, the first- to arrive, pluckily attempted a rescue, but were prevented by the fierceness of the flames. When these had subsided somewhat they dragged out Openshaw, whose 'plane was on top. His leg was broken, ah,d he was terribly burned. Both machines were burned to cinders.

A meeting of the Aero Club officials and pilots decided to complete the programme, i t

Longton was a leading figure- at the Hendon air pageants cluying the past f,our years. He specialised in hairraising displays of low Hying, including flat turns within .ten feet of the ground and low loops. He frequently simulated crashes, recovering control at the last moment.

Mrs. Longton and Mrs. Openshaw Witnessed the crash, Mrs. Longton had frequently accompanied her husband in flights. After the crash, the other pilots insisted that competitors in each event be limited to three. Bert Hiukler won the race in which the. disaster occurred. Lady Bailey and Mrs. Flliot' Lyuu competed in subsequent events.