A FORCED LANDING

Shannon News, 3 July 1928, Page 4

A FORCED LANDING

PLANE IN JUUJNmiW tTAaik., STEERING BETWEEN WICKETS. Cricketers and children in Battersea Park, London, had to scatter when an aeroplane made a forced landing there one evening a few weeks ago. A light pla-ne was being piloted by Captain White, chief instructor at Staglane aerodrome, Edgware> from Staglane to Croydon. ' ; Over Chelsea engine trouble developed and Captain White made for the nearest open space.- "I did not mind the landing, but it was the horrible fear of hitting someone that nearly unnerved me," he said afterwards. "1 space for themselves and resume their game. The aeroplane was undamaged, was making for Croydon, where I was to give pupils instructions in night flying, As I approached the river the engine began to fire unevenly. White smoke shot out and I think there was trouble with one of the valves. "I had just enough momentum to carry me over the river and then 1 looked round for a landing place. Except for Battersea Park it seemed to be a mass of houses, and I was reluctant to land in the park because of the crowds of people I could see there. It turned out to be the only possible spot in the district, so I planed down. I made for the east side of the park because that seemed to be the least crowded" and, just missing a low fence, I made a perfect landing without touching anybody. "For a landing-place the ground is beautiful. As I taxied up the park I ran between several cricket stumps, but I was careful not to knock any of them down." Within ten minutes of the landing there was a rush of exeited children. The cricketers managed to clear a