MOLLISONS CRASH

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1933, Page 5

MOLLISONS CRASH

AT END OF FLIGHT

FIVE ATTEMPTS MADE TO LAND.

(United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, July 24. A Bridgeport (Connecticut) n essage slates' the Alollisons crashed, when attempting to land. Mollison was taken to a hospital to determine the «xcnt of his injuries. Mrs Mollison was uninjured. After successfully crossing the Atlantic in the course of a non-stop flight from England to New York, and speeding down the New England coast, Mr‘ and Mrs Mollison crashed here at nine o’clock this evening, (eastern standard time) after baling 39 hours in the air. Both suffered cuts and abrasions to .the head and legs and arms and they were take nto an hospital, where it is reported their injuries are not serious.

The fliers headed for Floyd Bennett Field, on Long Island, but, as they passed over Bridgeport, they began circling the airport. In an instant their biplane plunged to the ground. The airport here' is the last one of any size before their goal. They were literally in sight of Now York when their crash occurred, Sixty miles distant a huge welcome had been awaiting them at Floyd Bennett Field, They had been flying at a speed of between -90 and 100 miles an ho\ir throughout the trip,. and their gasolene supply, four hundred gallons, must have been virtually exhausted. The Mollison*; circled .the airport here five times, and they each time attempted to come down on the regular runways of the aerodrome, without success. On their sixth attempt they landed in a drainage ditch some distance from the field. The plane nosedived in some soft marshland. Both fliers were thrown clear of the machine. Working with pocket lamps, searchers then discovered them, about- 400 feet from the boundary of the airfield. According to a report from the hospital, both , were exhausted. GENERA BALBO HONOURED. A ROME, July 24. General Balbo, the leader of the Italian squadron of 24 planes which fled the Atlantic, ■ has been created an Air Marshal. WOOD'S AT KARACHI. KARACHI, July 22. "Woods landed at Karachi, despite a flooded aerodrome. MOLLISONS TO FLY TO N. YORK THEIR CONDITION IMPROVED. (Received this day at 11.5 a.in.) BRIDGEPORT, July 24. A 'bulletin from the Bridgeport hospital, stated that both the Mollisons slept soundly and . comfortably throughout the night, and that their condition has improve^, Mollison announced at noon "to-day that he and his wife would fly to New York, leaving in Stratford -Sikorsky amphibian plan© at 5 p.m, for Floyd Bennett Field,

Both expressed regret at the mishap but after nine hours’ sleep, they were jno.r e cheerful. Their plane lies wrecked , at the rim of the Bridgeport airport.