LOOKED ILL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 September 1931, Page 3

LOOKED ILL

KINGSFORD SMITH'S NERVERACKING EXPERIENCE IN THE AIR SLIGHT TOUCH OF SUNSTROKE CALCUTTA, Sunday. Air Commodore Kingsford Smith arrived at Culeutta at 11.25 a.m. and left for Allahbad at 12.15 p.m. Later he flew over the Bamrauli aerodrome, Allahbad, and dropped a message attached to a banana to the effect that he was proceeding to Jhansi with a helping wind. He expected to reach Jhansi at dusk. The aviator had an amazing escape from death while flying from Rangoon to Culeutta. Starting off before dawn, he was making good progress over the Bay of Bengal, when he suddenly fainted at a height of 3000 feet and only regained consciousness when the machine was a few hundred feet above the water, and was still steadliy falling. The airman revived himself by putting his head over the side of the plane, thus obtaining an on-rush of air, and he regained control in the nick of time. When he arrived at Calcutta he first asked for a glass of brandy, and said he believed he had a slight sunstroke, but he refused to stay for treatment. He left an hour later for Jhansi. He is still suffering* from severe headache, and is now wearing an airtian's topee, which was given im by a member of the aerodrome staff.

The airman said the experience was uncanny and unnerving. He never had had it before, and hoped he never would again. He had learned his lesson, and will wear his topee during the flight. Smith is now half a day ahead of Mollison's time, but he has the appearance of being very ill.