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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0810.PDF
DSCEMBER l8, I9091 THE BLERIOT CROSS<CHANNEL MONUMENT. IMMEDIATELY following the historical feat of M. Louis Bleriot in crossing the Channel on his aeroplane, the Aero Club of the U.K. determined to erect a memorial at .or near the spot where the intrepid aviator first alighted on British soil. By the courtesy of the Aero Club we are enabled this week to reproduce a plan of this memorial, the cost of which Mr. Alexander Duckham, with such splendid generosity, offered to defray and present to the Aero Club of the U.K. The design is a full size plan »f the actual machine used by Bleriot and is to be reproduced by granite slabs placed on the actual site of the landing. It should make an appropriate and lasting memorial to one of the greatest events in history, and in the obvious stability of the scheme- selected we seem to see something symbolical of the future of flight when it shall at last have emerged from its present stage. It is singularly fitting that the landing place should have been selected as the site for the memorial, inasmuch as there is, in the Forest of Guines, another memorial commemorating the first Channel crossing made in a balloon. This was erected by the French Government to Blanchard, a Frenchman, "who alighted there after a most perilous passage on January 7th, 1785. during which he and his companion Dr. Jeffries, an Englishman, were thrice nearly immersed in the sea. Jeffries received little credit and less reward for his- part in the proceeding, which was of a principal character, and it is all the more a matter for appreciation on. this account that someone should have come forward With such rare promptitude to give public evidence of that recognition of Louis Bleriot's performance, which it is so characteristic of the British to sincerely feel in thei* hearts, to promptly acknowledge by word of mouth, but to leave over to posterity for embodiment in a sign. That the memorial has aroused Government recognition, is likewise gratifying, the War Office having given official consent to the use of the site selected. AVIATORS AND PUPILS AT MOURMELON.—A warm between flights.Hubert Latham, Lee Guinness, • , Somers Somerset, 812 From left to right, Messrs. Harkoess*., and Duray.
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