AVIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 January 1931, Page 5

AVIATION

ITALIAN SQUADRON’S FLIGHT FIVE PEOPLE KILLED (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ROME, Bth January. Rejoicing over the success of the seaplanes has been turned into sorrow on receipt of tile news from Bolama disclosing that five of the Atlantic fliers were killed and three injured when two machines were taking off and were forced down owing to the heavy loads of fuel and necessaries required for the ocean flights. One took fire, the commander, a sergeant and a wireless officer being burnt to death. A float was damaged on the other machine in which a sergeant-major was killed, and three slightly injured. TWO MACHINES LOST CRASH AND TAKE FIRE (Received 9th January, 8.50 a.m.) ROME, Bth January. General Balboa, Minister foi Air, in reporting to Mussolini, emphasised the poor visibility at the start, hut declared that it was necessary to utilise the moonlight, because the forecast did not promise improvement. The airmen before starting donned black shirts. The load on each machine was 10,000 pounds, which was heavy for taking off, even in clear weather. Captain Donadell’i and Lieutenant Deucci, reserve pilots, receivd a last-minute permission ,to accompany the flight. General Valle, who was detained for ninety minutes, flew over the Atlantic solo, and overtook his companions near the Brazillian coast. The obscurity of the sky for the first six hours necessitated the squadron navigating by instruments. The roll was called at dawn beyond Bolama, when ten answered. Recagno’s and Boer’s machines did not pass Bolama, the former crashing and taking fire on taking off, the crew being saved. Boer’s machine crashed and caught fire and disappeared with all hands, probably owing to a short circuit. A broken radiator caused Bistrocchi’s machine to alight on tiie ocean. A scout ship picked up the occupants. Balbo recalls predicting the loss of three machines as a possible outcome of the flight. MATTHEWS STILL DELAYED DARWIN, Bth January.

Matthews was unable to begin liia flight to-day owing to threatening weather. He will probably hop of! tomorrow.