DEATH OF FAMOUS AIRMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1917, Page 6

DEATH OF FAMOUS AIRMAN.

y. , • 1 ! ' ' fcIANCEE WITNESSES TRAGIC DIVE ; TO DEATH. Major Frank W. Goodden, R.F.C., one of the most fearless and successful of British, airmen, and a famous "looper," 4*B been killed in a flying accident. The /-left wing of his machine broke when . - iMajor Goodden was 15,000 ft up, and the - aeroplane fell like a stone. His fiancee I'.was among those who witnessed the ~\ {tragedy. Major Goodden, who was 26, v'|Hras often selected to give flying demonYBtrations for the benefit of distinguished '• \* guests, and on more than one occasion ■ B fce was personally congratulated by the 'King. He was the first airman to" loop ' 'tfie loop at night, and once accomplished '< the feat 14 times in succession. Eyc- * 3 fitnesses of the accident state that •Siiwhilfl he was flying at a great speed a Vieport was heard, parts of the machine * jwere seen to fly out, and in a second the ,'<. 4eft wing broke and assumed a vertical ■* position, which' caused the machine to Tg/drop on one side and begin to dive to Then commenced a struggle of jj ikill competing against accident. Sever- '? «1 times Major Goodden succeeded '■■ ' *3 (throwing the weight of the machine ilvjto its remaining good plane, until at ■> •H height of 900 ft the other plane collapsed, 'ffl 'and the aeroplane fell like a stone. ;,M- Mrpparently the pilot unstrapped himself y&jwd' prepared to take an upward jump J«|when the.machine hit the grourid. Fate !&&$!& against Mm, and he was crushed in§KJw's* wreckage. At the vftfi