LAST TWO OUT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 5 October 1936, Page 5

LAST TWO OUT

AIR RACE TO AFRICA CRASH STOPS CLOUSTON NO PERSONAL INJURY SMITH ENDS AT KHARTOUM (Ele<j. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, Oct. 4. Reports from Johannesburg report the failure to complete the journey by the two planes which yesterday remained in the race from Portsmouth to the Rand airport. Mr. Victor Smith, flying a Miles Sparrowhawk, who previously had been delayed in Yugoslavia, left Cairo yesterday for Khartoum, whore, on arrival,' ho announced his , retirement from the race. The New Zealandcr, Flying-Officer A. E. Clouston,. flying a Miles Hawk VI, left Entebbe, Uganda, at 3.30 a.m. yesterday for Johannesburg. Owing to engine trouble ho was able to make only short hops, but he covered 1400 miles yesterday, landing safely at Tabora, Abercorn and M'pncn before being forced down at Mtoko, where he secured 1- gallons of petrol and restarted. , •Finally, Clouston crashed at Gw.olo, 180 miles south of Salisbury. His machine was wrecked. Clouston and his passenger, Mr. Taslcor, were uninjured. The non-arrival of the plane hud caused great anxiety, and every available plane started at midnight on a search. ONE PLANE FINISHES SERIES OF MISHAPS TWO FLYERS KILLED Nine machines left Portsmouth early on Tuesday morning, September 29, to compete in the air race to Johannesburg! Of these only one—that of Messrs. C. W. A. Scott and Giles Guthrie, the winners—reached the finishing post within the 12D hours stipulated as the period of qualification for any of the several prizes totalling £IO.OOO. Following is a summary of the position in connection with the race : .Messrs. C. W. A. Scott and Giles Guthrie, in a Percival Gull, handicap 13hr. 14min., won the race, landing at the Rand airport, Germiston, at 12.36 p.m., October 1. Flight from Portsmouth accomplished in 2 days 4 hours 56minutes 48 seconds. Average speed 123 miles an hour.

Flying-Officer A. E. Clouston, formerly of Westport, New Zealand, in a Miles Hawk VI. handicap 6hr. 25min.— Delayed at. Khartoum; on September 30 by engine trouble when in second position in the race. Resumed the llight on Oct. 2. Experienced further trouble and finally crashed, damaging his machine, at Gwelo, 180 miles south of Salisbury. Mr. Victor Smith, of South Africa, in a Miles Sparrowhawk, handicap lOhr. 34min.—Made forced landing at Scoplje, Yugoslavia, September 29 owing to oil trouble. Crashed on return trip to London, at Tugari, Greece. Minor injuries suffered.. Left for C'airoa on October 2, reaching Khartoum, where lie abandoned the race, on October 3.

Captain S. S. Halse, of South Africa, in. a I'ercival Mew Gull, scratch.— Crashed at Bomhoshawo, 20 miles from Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, on September ZO when hours ahead of oilier competitors and within 685 miles of goal. Sent to hospital with dislocated arm and bruised head. Machine. badly damaged. Mr. Ken Waller. Flight-Lieutenant Max Findlay (co-pilot), and Messrs. Morgan (wireless operator) and Peachey (mechanic), in an Airspeed Envoy, handicap 3hr. 13min. —Crashed at Abercorn, Northern Rhodesia, October 1. Findlay and Morgan killed. Waller and, Peachey escaped with broken ribs and injured legs. Both sent to hospital. Machine wrecked.

Flying. Officer D. Llewellyn, in a Percival Vega Gull, handicap 13hr. 27min. —Crashed at Banks Dike, Tanganyika. October 1. Pilot not injured. Flight-Lieutenant T. Rose and Mr. Jack Ba'gshaw, in a B.A. IV Double Eagle, handicap 3hr. 6min.—Abandoned race at O'siiro on September 29, having broken under-carriage of machine in landing. Major A. VV. Miller, in a Percival Mew Gull, handicap lmin. I2sec—Retired from race at Ruma, 25 miles from Belgrade, September 29, owing, to lack of petrol. Mr. K. Alington and Lieutenant P. Booth in a B.A. Eagle, handicap 2'.lhr. 58min.—Made forced landing at Regensburg, .South Germany, September 29, through shortage of petrol, and abandoned the race.