LONE PLANE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17125, 4 December 1929, Page 11

LONE PLANE

WHOSE FORCED LANDING ? OFFICIAL DENIAL LONDON, Nov. 25. Two recent aviation incidents have caused such widespread public misgivings concerning the I’rinco of Wales’ flying activities that it has been found necessary to issue official corrections and semi-official explanations. The first incident occurred on November 15, when the Rririce’s private plane, coming from the Continent, was torced to land at Woking and a mystery developed concerning the passenger's identity. It was asserted that the passenger went to a local inn, where the innkeeper was sworn to secrecy.

Everybody concluded that the mysterious passenger must- he the l’rinee, hut officials at York House pointed out that the Prince had been at home all day; except when he saw the King and Queen oil' to ,Sandringham.

The other incident- was more recent. Several people declared that they had identified the l’rinec landing from a solo flight at Heston aerodrome. The first rumor was deemed objectionable, on the ground that it imputed that the l’rineo lap! a, desire to conceal something, and tho other because the public generally was dubious whether Hie heir to the Throne should take such risks. HUNTING, THEN FRYING? The Prince's private secretary, Sir Godfrey Thomas, stated to-day that reports that the Prince had flown much lately or secretly were “absolute rubbish.'’

The Prince’s unofficial defenders ask why he should he debarred from flying, seeing that he is so attached to il. Ho lias always been keen on it, and his interest has greatly assisted aviation, especially in the development of private ownership. His pilots are picked not merely for their skill, hut for their caution and safety, and no risks are taken.

It is recalled that he loved crosscountry horseracing, but gave it up when the Prime Minster, Mr. Baldwin, affectionately communicated to him the public misgivings. Hisi friends ask if it is fair to ask him to give up flying also, because it would he a, real blow. They point out that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald is also a keen aviator.