FIGHT IN MID-AIR

Shannon News, 24 July 1928, Page 4

FIGHT IN MID-AIR

A fight 2000 feet in the air between Harry Anderson, aged twenty-eight, airplane pilot, and Clarence Frechette, aged twenty-three, presumed to be a maniac, who Avas Anderson's passenger, occurred on May 14, above the grounds, of the State asylum near Pontiac, Michigan. The airplane, Avhieh fell on the asylum grounds Av:as wrecked and Anderson and Frechette Avere taken to hospital badly injured. Most of Anderson's teeth'had been knocked out by a hammer, which according to his story was psed by Frechette in attacking him. Mr. Anderson told his story with difficulty Arhile he was being prepared for the operating table.

“Frechette hired, me to carry mm from Detroit to Pontiac, and said he was a parachute tester," Mr. Anderson said. Everything seemed all . right until we sighted the asylum 1000 feet below us. I happened to turn my head toward Frechette, and saAV him standing in the airplane sAvinging the hammer. He brought it doAvn, striking me a glancing blow on. the head, and nearly stunning me. “I shouted* at him, and then the airplane dipped.' I slid out of. my seat, and we went in.a spin. I have no idea how I did it, but we pulled out of it. Then I looked again and Frechette was At ill there with the hammer. I duck :d, but he hit my head again. I remember clutehing the controls, but we went into a nose dive, and I. remember nothing more." Spectators in the asylum grounds, noticing the airplane's erratic manoeuvres, thought that a “-stunt" air: man was giving an exhibition. The airplane was Avithiu 200 feet of the earth when Anderson finally lost control. It was a miracle that Mr. And orson and Frechette were not killed.The rescuers found Mr. Anderson clutehing the control stick and Frechette mumbling incohcntly with a* broken hammer in his hand. Frechette told a disconnected story about being at tacked by Mr. Anderson, and said he was piloting the airplane when Anderson struck him with the hammer.