Crashed - English Channel. 1926 From 'The Times' Friday October 22nd, 1926. (Courtesy of Jane Marshall) AEROPLANE IN THE CHANNEL --------------------------- NARROW ESCAPE OF 12 OCCUPANTS --------------------------- FISHING BOAT RESCUE (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) FOLKESTONE, Oct. 21 Twelve persons who were crossing from London to Paris in an Imperial Airways aeroplane, a Handley Page W 10, the "Prince Henry" (see note below), this afternoon had a remarkable escape from drowning when, owing to engine trouble, the machine had to come down in the Channel. They escaped only because the aeroplane, though its wings were broken by the impact with the water, kept afloat long enough to allow a fishing vessel to race some four miles and take them off. When difficulties first arose the aeroplane was about 18 miles from the English coast, and some nine miles south of the Varne lightship. The starboard engine of the air liner stopped for some reason which has not been discovered, and the pilot realized that an unpleasant situation was likely to arise. Owing to the low clouds and strong winds, he had not been able to fly at a great height. He now tried to go slowly on towards the French coast with only the port engine working, and he even tried to gain a higher altitude, but he soon found that the power of one engine was not sufficient even to keep him at the comparatively low altitude he had reached. Gradually the machine sank, and it was soon clear that it would be down to the water before the French coast could be reached. The pilot therefore sent his engineer into the saloon to warn the passengers of the danger and to instruct them in the fixing of lifebelts. For something like 20 minutes the aeroplane continued to limp along on an easterly course, and then, when it was quite close to the sea, the pilot brought it on to the water on as even a keel as possible. Both wings were broken, and they tended to crumple up, yet for about 45 minutes the great machine floated, buoyed up by the wood in its frame and the air still left in parts of the wings and in the petrol tanks. All this time, however, it was steadily sinking, and only the timely arrival of the motor fishing boat Invicta, of Folkestone, saved the party of ten passengers, pilot, and engineer. MOTOR-BOATS RACE The Invicta, captained by Mr. Thomas Marshall, was fishing some 16 miles east of Folkestone at about 1.15 this afternoon when the aeroplane was first seen to be losing height. The story of what happened then was told to me to-night by Captain Marshall. "We saw the aeroplane was coming down," he said, "and we set to at once to help it. We cut out our fishing lines and changed over from the paraffin which we were burning to petrol as soon as we saw the aeroplane touch the water, because we knew we could not get to it before it sank unless we made our greatest speed. It took us about 25 minutes to do the four miles that separated us, and when we got there the passengers were gathered in a group near the tail of the machine. Most of them, were up to their waists in water, and the aero plane was still sinking, but they were absolutely calm. Even the women were not excited. I ran the boat right in alongside the machine and held it firm with a grappling iron; then I leaned over and hoisted all the party on board." The pilot and the passengers were loud in their praises of Captain Marshall's prompt rescue. The party were brought into Folkestone and taken to the Royal Pavilion Hotel. The pilot, Mr. F. Desimore, told me his story as he lay in bed to-night in borrowed pyjamas. He said that trouble developed in the starboard engine at 1.12 p.m. As it was impossible to restart an engine in the air, he sent back a wireless warning to Croydon, and tugs and boats at Folkestone, Dover, and Hythe were warned of their difficulty. He carried on with the port engine for probably half an hour, and looked about for a boat, near which to come down, but could see none. When the machine reached the water the passengers, with the help of his engineer, climbed out of the top of the saloon on to the roof. They behaved extraordinarily well. The machine sank slowly, and after 20 minutes or so he had to gather the passengers in a group at the tail, which was highest; but here, too, the water was up to the waists of some, though it was only over the ankles of others. The following were travelling in the aeroplane:- Mr. R. J. Angel, of Reddons-road, Beckenham; Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, Cincinatti, U.S.A.; Mr. Bertram Cock, of Richmond, Surrey; Mr. J. L. Bonney and the Misses Bonney, of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. W. S. Hunter of Worcester, Massachusetts: Mr. P. Kennavasor; Mrs. Johnstone Watt, St. Andrew's, Scotland; and Mr. F. Desimore, pilot and Mr. C. Pearson, engineer, both of London. Among the crew of the Invicta, was Captain Marshall's eldest son, 18-year-old William. (Typesetting by David L. Marshall, October 8, 1982) Note: The name of the W.10 was 'City of London', not 'Prince Henry'. Prince Henry was a W.8 which was in service until it was scrapped in 1932.