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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0511.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 27, 1932 CROYDON €ONSIDEKABLE excitement was caused over the week-end by the anticipated arrival of Miss Amelia Earhart, the transatlantic heroine. Pressmen were waiting all Saturday and Sunday expecting her to arrive at Croydon, and when she ultimately arrived at Hanworth great was the wailing and gnashing of teeth at the time wasted. The news of the regrettable death of Maj. I. W. C. Clarke, while returning from Londonderry with photo graphs of Miss Earhart, was received here at Croydon with dismay. Everyone here knew him so well. A really wonderful pilot—one of the old school—and to think he should meet his death on such a flight. Aviation has received another severe blow with his death, and great is the loss to Personal Flying Services. He was one of the organising brains of the company, and we offer them our deepest sympathy in the loss of a greatly respected man. On Monday of the week under review some unexpected passengers went out on the 12.30 K.L.M. service, namely, the Emir Fejsal and his staff. They were travelling incognito. A slight mishap befell the first of the new Monospar machines, built by the General Aircraft Company, on Mon day, when Fit. Lt. Schofield, on his first take off with full load, had one engine cut out suddenly and had to do some quick thinking. Realising that he would be unable to clear the houses at the top of the ridge (he was taking off with a south south-westerly wind), he decided to put the aircraft down as soon as possible. The wing was damaged, and also the nose of the machine. Fit. Lt. Schofield and his three passengers escaped unhurt. On Friday Capt. O. P. Jones, with a full load of pas sengers, took Heracles to Glasgow. The flight was an experiment in two-way wireless communication with the London & North Eastern Railway's famous train " The Flying Scotsman." He followed the train for part of the way. The experiment was apparently very successful, but this stunt was carried out in America years and years ago. Primo Camera, the giant boxer, is making good use of the airways these days. He is quite a frequent pas senger, also Mr. Jeff Dickson, the boxing promoter. The second Polytechnic Tour to Basle was again full up on Saturday, and I understand that for many weeks ahead machines are fully booked. The weather was particularly bad on the return trip to Croydon, especially mid-Channel. Capt. Hope, of Air Taxis, Ltd., incoming from Paris, on a " Puss Moth " fitted with radio telephony, made his debut in flying blind, and being brought to Croydon. It is understood that Capt. Hope is full of praise for the Control Tower staff. Grass cutting on the aerodrome has been in progress all the week. This work is now done very quickly by ganged mowers, and is a great improvement on the old method of using only one knife. The artificial manure has certainly improved the aerodrome surface. All the K.L.M. staff have now been regaled in very smart uniforms, including the pilots, and the aerodrome will soon have a nautical air about it. Practically every body is in uniform here these days, and it certainly adds a very businesslike appearance, making civil aviation look like the real business that it is, and not just a sort of haphazard affair. A fair amount of joyriding was done over the week-end, but, of course, the weather was not very kind, especially on Sunday afternoon and evening. The British Air Transport Company have acquired a three-seater Hermes " Spartan," which looks a really smart affair. The traffic figures for the week were: — Passengers, 1,007 ; freight, 46 tons. P. B. FROM HESTON T UESDAY, May 17.—The finest flying day yet experi enced this year, and Airwork School of Flying found itself unable to cope with the number of pupils wishing to fly. The Customs office was kept busy all the day, the first clearance being at 6.30 a.m. and the last at 8.41 p.m. In all, 19 clearances were made. Banco sent off five machines to Berck, and six arrived from Berck. Among their passengers were Lord Dalkeith, Sir Hugh Seely, Lady Mary Herbert, Brig.-General A. C. Critchley and Capt. Alan Stanley. Personal Flying Ser vices, Ltd., made a similar journey with their " junkers." Two private owners returned from St. Inglevert ; one from Paris ; and one left for Paris. D-1169 arrived from Germany, via Ostend, the pilot being Herr Max Behland, who intends to show England some real stunt flying. His machine is painted red, and he also wears a very smart aviation suit with jack boots— all coloured red (see page 468). Another most interesting arrival was Mrs. Mansfield Markham, who, in an " Avian," flew solo from Kenya. She gave a very interesting account of her trip, and although she had experienced several forced landings owing to sand getting into the engine—and this in desert country—appeared to treat her exploit as nothing out of the ordinary. Mr. Brett arrived from Cannes in F-AJZB Special (" Gipsy II Moth "). Mr. Ledlie, of Personal Flying Services, Ltd., arrived from Budapest with one passenger in a " Desoutter." He left Budapest at 8.10 a.m., lunched in Nuremberg, tea in Cologne, and reached Heston at 8.25 p.m. Wednesday.—There was great activity during the morn ing with the arrival of aeroplanes attending the House hold Brigade Flying Meeting. The German " Klemm " D-1901 cleared Customs and left for Berlin with Herr Theo Osterkamp as pilot and one passenger. An Imperial Airways machine, D.H.50, landed at Heston with passengers, the pilot being Maj. Travers, of Imperial Airways staff. Thursday.—Lord Willoughby de Broke arrived in his " Puss Moth " with one passenger from Frankfurt. Airwork School of Flying was busy all day. Friday.—Mr. Ambler arrived from Frankfurt in his " Puss Moth." Saturday.—Owing to the Morning Post Race, the School of Flying had to be closed down until the last competitor had left, but between then and the afternoon, when the rain arrived, the School kept steadily going. It was interesting to hear from the winner of the third prize in the race (Mr. G. Baillie) that he was very grateful and gained much assistance from the weather reports broadcast from the A.A. Weather Bureau at Heston. His was the only machine in the race fitted with wireless. Maj. Clarke (" Nobby "), of Personal Flying Services, Ltd., left in the " Desoutter " for Dublin at 8.30 a.m. All who knew him were grieved to hear on Sunday morning of his fatal accident. He was respected and admired by everyone. Banco took a passenger to Gloucester, starting at 7 p.m. and returning the same evening. Sunday.—Banco took two passengers to Brighton in their " Puss Moth." Mr. Nigel Norman, Director of Airwork, Ltd., is organis ing a party of private owners to attend the Aero Club of Germany Air Pageant at Tempelhof on June 12. It is hoped, therefore, that those intending to take part will let him know in due course. The National Aviation Day, which was to have been held by Sir Alan Cobham at Heston on May 26, has been postponed until some future date which has not yet been fixed. 471
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