STORY OF CRASH AT BRINDISI

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 5

STORY OF CRASH AT BRINDISI

Escape From Sunken Flying-Boat

BRAVERY OF CREW OF CYGNUS

(United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 7, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. The first account by one of those rescued of the disaster at Brindisi, when the Imperial Airways flying-boat Cygnus crashed when taking off, was given by Mr Robert Lutyens, a son of Sir Edwin Lutyens, the architect, on his arrival at Rome.

“Fortunately the hatchway was open, and I clambered out and swam to the motor-launch, which was coming to meet me,” said Mr Lutyens. “It was an awful moment when I felt the weight of my overcoat dragging me down, but I managed to get it off. I witnessed the rescue work from an Imperial Airways tender. I have no words to describe the bravery of the Cygnus’s crew. The second officer, Mr Mountain, dived three times to open the top of the hatch to the main compartment, and he then dived again to rescue Mrs Ritchie, who had been swimming about, seeking her brother. Mrs Ritchie, of Charleville (Queensland) is a sister of Captain William Falconer Macdonald, the Australian who was one of the two men killed; the other was a steward, Frederick Stoffani. Mr Lutyens added that at a brief inquiry held yesterday the Italian, authorities exonerated the crew from blame or carelessness. “My opinion is that the accident was caused by one of those exceptional acts of fate which should not be allowed to retard the progress of aviation,” he said. Mr Lutyens was wearing a strange assortment of clothes lent by porters and others, and he carried a small paper parcel containing all of his luggage that he was able to salvage. Five American oil men and an American couple from Alexandria had left the Cygnus at Brindisi for the purpose of travelling by train. Thus the plane was lightened by seven passengers, otherwise the casualty list might even have been heavier. The Cygnus has been hoisted out of the water and now lies on the quay. All the mail from the Cygnus, weighing over a ton, has been salvaged. The Italian Post Office is drying and forwarding it as soon as possible. A formal advertisement in The Times announces the death in the air accident of William Tan Falconer Macdonald of Watabadgery, East Wagga. The Brindisi correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says Mrs Ritchie has not recovered sufficiently to make a statement. The 11 passengers injured in the accident are progressing, except Mr Sharman, who is still dangerously ill from injuries not yet determined. EIGHTH MISHAP IN NINE DAYS HAWKER DEMON PLANES IN AUSTRALIA (Received December 7, 11.30 p.m.)

SYDNEY, December 7. Another crash involving a plane belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force occurred today—the eighth Hawker Demon plane to crash in nine days. The plane, which was making weather observations along the coast near Gosford, made a forced landing at Avoce. It was extensively damaged. The pilot, John Burgess, aged 26, and the wireless operator, Alan Lord, aged 21, were not severely injured, although Lord was hurled 30ft'in the air. The Minister of Defence (Mr H. V. Thorby) announced that an official inquiry had been opened into the series of mishaps to air force planes.