LEADER CRASHES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19134, 1 October 1936, Page 5

LEADER CRASHES

RACING FLYERS HALSE GOES TO HOSPITAL SCOTT TAKES THE VAN CI.OUSTOX IX TROUBLE SPARE PART AWAITED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Heed. Oct. 1, noon) LONDON, Sept. 30. Latest reports of the progress of the air race from Portsmouth to Johannesburg indicate a further reduction of the field to four owing to a crash by the leader, Captain S. S. liaise, while the New Zealander, Flying-Officer A. E. Clouston, is also reported to have encountered trouble. A message from Nairobi stated that Captain liaise arrived at Kisunni at 7.24 a.m. (British standard time) and left at 8.0 a.m. He arrived at Mbeya, Rhodesia, at noon, British standard time, and left at 12.10 p.in. for Salisbury, lie was not feeling well and it was expected that he might land at Mpika or Broken Hill for a rest. Ho was delayed at Mbeya longer than lie anticipated, owing to magneto trouble. During his enforced wait, Captain liaise made every effort to rest and shake off feelings of weariness and sickness due to humpy conditions. DOWN NEAR SALISBURY' Later came a report that Captain liaise had crashed near Salisbury and had been sent to a hospital. Prior to this lie hud been lending in the race b,v six hours from his nearest contender, Air. C. W. A. Scott. Captain Pulse had covered the 4307 miles to Kisuniu in 24hrs. 23min. Captain liaise, who is an instructor to tho Johannesburg Aero Club, took Ohrs. from Cairo to Khartoum, compared with Mr. Scott’s Olns. 7min. and Flving-Officcr I). Llewellyn’s 7hrs. Flying-Officer Clouston, who was then lying second to Captain liaise, landed at Khartoum at 2.45 a.m. (local time) and complained of engine trouble. It appeared that he had run a bearing and it was doubtful whether he would be able to continue. Subsequently Cairo reported that an Italian plane was taking a spare piston to Flying-Officer Clouston, who hoped to be' able to leave in the afternoon. Mr. Scott and Flying-Officer Lcwcllyn arrived at Khartoum at 5,45 a.m. and left together at 6 a.m. Mr. ScolL arrived at Kisuniu tit 2 p.in., British eastern standard time, and departed 20 minutes later. Flying-Officer Llewellyn passed over Entebbe at 2.15 p.m., British castcn.i standard time, on route for Mpika. Mr. Ken Waller is reported to have landed at Korina, 325 miles from Khartoum. Ilis petrol was exhausted ami after refuelling lie continued to Khartoum.

CLOUSTWS CAREER AT SEA WHEN FOURTEEN FLYING FOR SEVEN YEARS (Per Press Association.) NELSON, last night. Lieut. A. E. Clouston, who is a con test ant in the air race from Portsmouth to Johannesburg, is 28 years of age, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Clouston, of Neudorf, Nelson, lie was born at Motueka, and went to school at Coliingwood. At the ago of 14 years lie went to sea, which calling he. followed for some time until he suffered an illness. Returning to the land he became engaged in the-motor business in Nelson and on the WestCoast and later took up flying at Blenheim, training under Captain Chandler.

After a few months, at the age of 21 years, ho sailed for England, where he was with the Fairey Aviation Company for some months, until the joined the Royal Air Force. At present he occupies the position of chief test pilot to the Air Ministry, and has been given time off to permit him to participate in the race.