BIG BOMBER CRASHES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20176, 3 March 1931, Page 14

BIG BOMBER CRASHES.

; *' THREE AIRMEN KILLED. J; HITS HEADQUARTERS OFFICE. (»OU OUR OWX COBBXUPOKBBXT.) LONDON, January 20. T Two lloyal Air Force officers and a leading aircraftsman were killed and a ; number of derks in the station headquarters were injured as the result of """ a flying accident at Worthy Down yesr • terday. A Vickers Virginia of No. 7 (Bombing) Squadron, coming in to land, came into collision with the station headquarters, and in addition to : the occupants of the aeroplane nino ! persons working in the office were injured. The big twin-engined bomber, which had made a journey to Farnhorough and had landed there, was * toming back to lartd at 12.30 and was Hying On. to the aerodrome in a northt westerly wind when it struck a corner »£ the station headquarters, a brick - building with a wooden roof co,vered with felt. One wall and the roof collapsed, and the aeroplane itself settled down, among the debris. Inside the building were nine clerks, including ' two civilians, a£ work. They were' ahout to leave for the luncheon mtervaiA . Outside two motor-cars were stand- . , ing, and in one of these was the station commander, Group-Captain C. K. 11, .Edmonds, and his chauffeur. The _ nation commander had a remarkable escape. The roof of his car was ripped " off and the engine and "the front part were crushed by one wiug of the falling machine. ..The chauffeur's hand was ■ cut with glass broken from the wind;<Tcen, but otherwise the occupants of the car were unhurt. The other car

standing before the wrecked building was that of the station adjutant, who was about to enter it, when it was crodied and practically destroyed by the falling aeroplane. In another minute the adjutant would hare been sitting in the car ready to move off. It 19 considered- that the pilot had height aiid speed" wepare to make a fchort landing. But her had no margin ' to spare ifdownward currents were to hj, ItohS&n n/,r hj «nd k, th. wrath rackets court. It is quite likely 4, W* »w fc ■? WP]an» was coming £ over the station buildings, "with; per- . hapa ISO.fcettto spare, it met, a down fr ' current which caused it to strike the corner of the station headquarters. When it struck the building one wall ,«»d the roof collapsed. The i?lerks in- 1 S,< d If® a I ? aSIJ «^ma^