LINDBERGH MOBBED BY CROWD AT CROYDON

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 58, 31 May 1927, Page 9

LINDBERGH MOBBED BY CROWD AT CROYDON

MAGNIFICENT RECEPTION AIR HERO BESIEGED By Cable.—Press Association. —Cspyrigh LONDON, Sunday. Captain Charies Lindbergh, the young American trans-Atlantic flyer, landed at Croydon airdrome, he was greeted by a crowd of 100.000 people. Barriers were trampled down, and it was only after a struggle that the airman got free from his machine. Further trouble was experienced in getting him away from the airdrome. 4 MID the constant struggle and _ clamour Captain Lindbergh arrived. He was forced to circle above the airdrome time and again before he could land. He was escorted by seven planes. When the airman did descend the struggle between the police and the crowd was resumed. More barriers were trampled down and people madly rushed to the landing space. No sooner was the police cordon formed again than it was once more broken. In the meantime Captain Lindbergh’s monoplane had circled gracefully and suddenly descended to the cleared space. There followed an uurestrainable rush to the mach tie. Thereupon Captain Lindbergh rose in his machine at an amazingly acute, angle and again circled over the field. For a while it was, too dangerqus for him to land again. The police finally triumphed, however, and the airman landed gracefully. In the mad rush of the crowd women fainted and were trampled upon. Captain Lindbergh dared not leave the cockpit of his plane x until a motor-car ploughed its way to him. His first words were: “Save the machine.” The airmail was hauled into the car, which crawled on its way to the reception room. This he reached in a state bordering on collapse. The police had to return to the airdrome to rescue the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Samuel Hoare, and the American Ambassador, Mr. A. B. Houghton, who were helpless in the centre of the crowd. The people then demanded that Captain Lindbergh should show himself on the balcony of the reception hall. They promised not to mob him. The airman appeared on the balcony and megaphoned his thanks for the tremendous reception accorded to him. Fifty persons, including a number of girls, were precipitated through the roof of a shed, which collapsed. Six of them were taken to hospital suffering from minor injuries. Captain Lindbergh’s flight to London was typical of the man. He flew as low as 20ft. above the sea, now and again swooping and causing considerable uneasiness to passing shipping. When Captain Lindbergh left Croydon by motor-car for the city, the officials made plea after plea for a passage through the crowd, but without success. Finally an amusing ruse was adopted. By means of a megaphone it was announced to the crowd that a badly injured woman was in the car, and they were asked to let it through. The crowd thereupon opened a narrow lane. The cheering was hushed as the car passed, but the supposed woman on the floor of the vehicle was really Captain Lindbergh, who was thus able to reach the city and proceed to the American Embassy and his dinner.—A. and N.Z.