French Airman's Attempt Ended Dramatically. by Machine Crashing in Flames when Taking Off: Three Others to Make Attempt: First.to Be Ready By October 5
New York, Sept. 21.
The French airman, Captain Fonck, started on his trans-Atlantic flight this. morning but the machine erased in. flames, It is believed that two of his companions. were Killed. Fonck escaped.
The airman aimed at winning the prize - of £5,000 for the first non-stop "flight from the Uni'ed States to France. wus necompanied by an American naval lieutenant Curtin as pilot, 'a mechanic and a wireless operator. The machine was a giant Sikorsky fire alarm, which brought the fre brigade on the scene within 10 minutes but too late to save the mechanic and operator. 5 Thousands of persons witnessed the start but the intense heat of th burning aeroplane kept the people lat a distance of 40 feet. Women spectators fainted and shrieked.
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