AMY JOHNSON

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1931, Page 5

AMY JOHNSON

HER PLANE DAMACED. L United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph .—Copyright.] WARSAW, January 4. Amy Johnson had to mane a forced landing. It whs near the village of Krasnos-Krasnosiclk, near Pultusk, •sixty miles north of Warsaw. Tlic undercarriage of her plane was smashed. She herself was unhurt. Miss Johnson should have started from Berlin at 9 a.m., on a non-stop flight to Warsaw, but adverse weather ideiayed her until 10.30 a.m., when the rain ceased. Ihe Berlin aerodrome officials urged Miss Johnson to fly by a south ern route, via Breslau, thus enabling good landing grounds to be reached if the weather became any worse, but as it would take by that route, seven hours compared with four hours by the direct route, Miss Johnson chose the latter, saying, as she entered the plane, cheerfully, and confident: “I may turn round if it gets worse.” She encountered bad weather,' as adverse winds forced her northward and she missed her way to Warsaw. Before she could get back on to. the course, fog forced her to make a descent on some rough ground. There was an absence of news of hel* Whereabouts for . over six hours and this caused considerable anxiety at " Warsaw, where a large crowd waited for her arrival nt the illuminated landing ground until long after darkness. The anxiety was dispelled by Mis Johnson telephoning that she was all right. - She stated that she was leaving her plane, and was going to Warsaw by train. FLIGHT HELD UP. OWING TO PLANE! DAMAGED. (Received this day at TO a.m.) WARSAW ,• Jami ary ~f . An expert examination of the plane shows it is impossible for Amy Johnson to resume her flight at an early date. The wing: and' engine, are both damaged necessitating the bringing of the Moth to Warsaw for repairs. FURTHER: COMMENT. (Received this day at 1.5 p.rn.) BERLIN, January 5. Further evidence of opinions regarding the Siberian flight was, provided by the “Local Anzeiger” which states: “With respect to the youthful English pilot it must be pointed out that good solo flying calls for powers of orientation, and meteorological knowledge, in both of which she is apparently defective. Three flying ' mishaps since, tlie start cannot well be ascribed to mere bad luck.”

The “Tempo” hoped she trill sec in her forced landing at Poland h warning of fate and return to England. Another newspaper says .Amy Ims not paid attention to the advice offered by experienced aviators regarding the route and weather. PROSPECTS OF FLY. (Received thin dav at 1.5 n.m.' BERLIN, January 5. The newspaper “Tempo’s” Warsaw correspondent reiterates a warning that Amy Johnson will face .certain death if she is forced to land in Siberia. She would have as much chance of find a habitation in these wastes as winning a lottery. The correspondent comments on Amy’s strange demeanour which “gives an impression of the apathy of a sick woman, which; does not. appear to fit her for the undertaking,” and states she should be prevented from continuing.

Reports as to the extent of damage are conflicting. British United Press Berlin correspondent states that repairs are being completed to-morrow, ■when Amy will fly the plane to Warsaw for a complete overhaul.