AIRWOMAN FORCED DOWN IN SEA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 17

AIRWOMAN FORCED DOWN IN SEA.

LONG SWIM TO SHORE. MISS SPOONER'S VENTURE. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BI ELECTEIC telegraph—copyright.) ROME, December 4. Miss Winifred Spooner and FlyingOrticer E. Edwards, who were attempting a fast five-days' flight to Cape Town, wtre forced down in the Tyrrhenian Sea. . Tliev came down two miles from the shore." '1 he flyers shouted for assists ance for two hours, and then Miss Spooner swam through the choppy sea and informed a fisherman, who rescued Edwards from the aeroplane. Both were slightly injured. Ine machine was towed ashore. Miss Spooner was traversing the Tyrrhenian Sea in moonlight when engine trouble caused the descent, r.uckily the aeroplane floated. The pair sent up flares for two honrs, and also constantly shouted, but wero unsuccessful. Then Miss Spooner, who is an excellent swimmer, resolved to attempt to swim to the shore, which was esti-. mated to bo two miles distant. A Choppy Sea. The sea was choppy and the current strong. When she landed two hours later ehe was suffering considerably from cold and exhaustion, and was unable to find anyone. fc>he managed, however, to stumble to the railway station at Belmonte, where she was given first aid. The station staff aroused fishermen, who set off to the rtscue, guided to the aeroplane by the few remaining flares left in the possession of Edwards. Dawn was just breaking when Edwards "was taken off and the aeroplane taken in tow. Flyers Slightly Injured. Miss Spooner was slightly injured about the nose and lips, and Edwards on the forehead. They are at present the guests of the Mayor of Belmonte An aeroplane has been sent to Miss Spooner's assistance bv the Italian Air Minister. General Itafo Balbo. Miss Spooner, who became a pilot in 1927. has made a number of historic flights, and has had several remarkable escanes. She received the woman's tronh.y of the International League of Aviators in March. FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. HILL DUE AT DARWIN. (Received December sth, 8.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 5. It is expected that Frederick Hill, the aviator, who crashed at Atamboea on the last stage of his flight from England to Australia, will reach Darwin to-night, his machine having been reconditioned.