PILOT'S STORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 1, 2 January 1936, Page 10

PILOT'S STORY

KHARTOUM SMASH

VARYING VERSIONS

ALTIMETER FAILS

United Press Association—lly Electric Tele graph—Copyright. (Received January 2, 2 p.m.)

LONDON, January 1

The newspapers publish conflicting accounts of statements from Wilson, the pilot of the City of Khartoum.

According to the "Daily Telegraph's" Alexandria correspondent, he said* he struck out for the shore and reached the entrance of the harbour. He tried to climb the wall, but %vas unable to grip the barnacle-covered stonework and was forced to swim away. He took off all his clothing in order to keep afloat. It is believed the crash was due to a fault in the altimeter. Apparently one of the engines cut out, and Wilson decided to alight outside the harbour. He was then, according to the altimeter, 2000 feet up. The other engines failed as he began the descent in the darkness, consequently Wilson was obliged to rely entirely on the altimeter, which, however, showed 200 feet when the 'plane struck the water.

The "Daily Mail" communicated by telephone with Colonel Henbey, commandant of tho Alexandria city police, who said he had received a full account from an officer of the destroyer Brilliant, which picked up Wilson.

The machine developed engine trouble nearing Alexandria, and the wireless operator sent out several SOS messages. He received a reply that help was coming, but suddenly the machine nosedived into the sea and then completely somersaulted.

Wilson was thrown clear and struck out for a buoy, to which he clung. It was only by shouting and whistling that he attracted the attention of the Brilliant.

Wilson told his rescuers, "I was about done and almost unconscious when taken aboard."

The destroyer Beagle was the first to go in response to the SOS, and must have passed, over the wreck before the arrival of the Brilliant, and within easy distance of Wilson, but saw nothing.

One of the engines, parts of the wing, and bits of the fuselage are already ashore. Salvage operations have been suspended until daybreak.