AIRMAN’S PLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1930, Page 6

AIRMAN’S PLIGHT

HEMMED IN BY-CLOUDS. -|v TOWN, LOSES -ITS SLEEP. The town of Maidstone-, in Kent, was all “nerves” .recently. 'There were dark rings under the .eyes or many of its residents-—the result of a dreadful night of sleeplessness, It was all because an airman,, at 1.25 iir the morning, decided that the air over Maidstone was the* best in ilie world, and lor more Gian two hours, until the dawn came, lie Hew round and round monotonously, ming tlie house-tops. But Maidstone should not be angry, says the “Daily Express.” The airman was a. prisoner in the air! At midnight tlie Belgian air mail niid left Brussels, and it should have been safely down at Croydon at 1.25 m., but the pilot, soon after he passed over Maidstone at 1 a.in., found his way barred by low clom.ls mil mist. He decided to trim back to the' coast, hut when he reached ••I aid stone again lie discovered that lie was completely surrounded by ‘ln'iids and lie decided that the only thing to do was to fly round imping for the weather to improve. At 1.45 a.m. the Maidstone police had a friendly chgt with Croydon Wfodrome, which in effect was: “There is a great, aeroplane flying round and round here, making a icrribie noise, frightening the people ■mil. in fact, disturbing the peace. Can you do. anything to move him off?”

Croydon knew a little more than .the police. They assured the police that they would tell the pilot all they could about the weather, and perhaps he would he able to reach home.' Weather reports were sent by wireless to the- pilot in a steady stream-/ but lie was taking no chances. Bv now the whole of the county town had been roused, and inhabitants who did not understand the pilot's peril grew more and mere indignant that their rest should he disturbed in such an unconventional way. Then, as dawn, was breaking just before 4 b J clock,. relief came. Through the clouds there was a slight break, and the pilot picked-his way through' toward the coast, from whence he came over two hours before. Maidstone settled down to get a. few hours’ sleep, and the air mail completed its journey safely, although it was some hours late. ;