L. F. MACDONALD -1913

 

TWO AVIATORS DROWN IN THAMES Engine Explodes on Hitting Water Mr. L. F. Macdonald and Mr. Harry England Killed While Attempting to Fly Over River, Their Monoplane Making a Dive from a Height of 120 Feet. The New York Herald June 14, 1913 [SPECIAL DESPATCH TO THE HERALD VIA COMMERCIAL CABLE COMPANY'S SYSTEM.] HERALD BUREAU,} NO. 120 FLEET STREET,} London, Tuesday.} Mr. L. F. Macdonald and Mr. Harry England, aviators employed by Vickers, Limited, lost their lives in the River Thames, off Dartford, as the result of a remarkable accident yesterday evening. While passing over the river in a Vickers monoplane toward the Essex shore the machine made a dive from a height of 120 feet.       According to Mr. H. G. Tieehurst, manager of the Thames ammunition works, who saw the tragedy through a telescope from the conning tower of the company at Erith, after the machine struck it exploded. He saw one of the aviators clamber out of the water and try to climb up the left wing of the monoplane, but his weight was too much, and it sank at once. Then the man swam away from the wreck and struck out for the shore, but, numbed by the icy cold water, he perished after swimming ten yards.      The bodies have not yet been recovered. Transcribed by Roy Nagl, 12-27-05 TRUE TALES OF THE ANCIENT AVIATORS

 

L. F. Macdonald died in 1913. Editor's Note: If you have any more information on this pioneer aviator, please contact me. E-mail to Ralph Cooper   Back