" FELL LIKE A
FIREWORK."
DIVE TO DEATH FROM A HEIGHT OF 2,000 FEET over Salisbury Plain
Captain Downer was one of the most popular officers in the service, he had passed through the Staff College, joining the aviation class at the Central Flying School on January 27 last, and had been about six weeks under instruction. The course of tuition, however, was very much restricted in consequence of the inclement weather prevailing in February and during the present month. On the morning of the fatality, however, the weather cleared, and Captain Downer took out a B.E. biplane fitted with a 70-h.p. Renault engine. After being in the air some minutes he rose to a height of 2,000 ft., and then, making a wide sweep of the flying-ground, he appeared to be descending at a great pace. When, about 600 ft. from the earth the momentum of descent became terrific, and with a sickening crash the machine struck the ground about a mile away from the school. When an ambulance arrived on the spot the biplane was found to be a complete wreck, and amongst the debris was the body of the unfortunate pilot, who had apparently stuck to his seat and met an instantaneous death. The engine was completely embedded in the soil and chalk, and the wings smashed to atoms. It was stated at the inquest that the deceased had been up on the machine on previous occasions. It was a type which had been in constant use for 12 months, and had been found very satisfactory. Captain Salmond, instructor at the school, said he tested the machine, and went up in it before Captain Downer ascended. It was in perfect condition. Captain Downer had made 23 flights altogether
whilst at the school, and had flown alone. The witness watched the flight, and noticed the machine, when about 2,000 ft. up, begin to descend rapidly, and at a steep angle. He thought Captain Downer must have lost control. He heard no explosion. One wing broke off and fell when the machine was 250 ft. from the earth. The wing was 50 yards away from where the machine fell. The fact that the machine was travelling too fast and too steeply accounted for the wing breaking. Another eye-witness said the machine "came down to earth like a firework." Experts explained an alleged explosion by saying that the noise heard was probably the wing breaking, and the smoke would be from the exhaust. There ware no signs of fire amongst the wreckage.
A verdict of "Accidental death'' was returned, the jury expressing sympathy with the relatives. Captain Downer was unmarried, and was a son of the Rev. Dr.Downer, a Church of England clergyman. His home was in Sussex. He served in the South African war in the 2nd Northants Regiment under Lord Methuen, saw the brunt of the fighting, and was present at the Modder River engagement. He received the King's and Queen's medals. He was with the 1st Northants in India, and entered the Staff College in 1911. Upon passing through this he became attached to the Flying Corps.
DIVE TO DEATH FROM A HEIGHT OF 2,000 FEET over Salisbury Plain
Captain Downer was one of the most popular officers in the service, he had passed through the Staff College, joining the aviation class at the Central Flying School on January 27 last, and had been about six weeks under instruction. The course of tuition, however, was very much restricted in consequence of the inclement weather prevailing in February and during the present month. On the morning of the fatality, however, the weather cleared, and Captain Downer took out a B.E. biplane fitted with a 70-h.p. Renault engine. After being in the air some minutes he rose to a height of 2,000 ft., and then, making a wide sweep of the flying-ground, he appeared to be descending at a great pace. When, about 600 ft. from the earth the momentum of descent became terrific, and with a sickening crash the machine struck the ground about a mile away from the school. When an ambulance arrived on the spot the biplane was found to be a complete wreck, and amongst the debris was the body of the unfortunate pilot, who had apparently stuck to his seat and met an instantaneous death. The engine was completely embedded in the soil and chalk, and the wings smashed to atoms. It was stated at the inquest that the deceased had been up on the machine on previous occasions. It was a type which had been in constant use for 12 months, and had been found very satisfactory. Captain Salmond, instructor at the school, said he tested the machine, and went up in it before Captain Downer ascended. It was in perfect condition. Captain Downer had made 23 flights altogether
whilst at the school, and had flown alone. The witness watched the flight, and noticed the machine, when about 2,000 ft. up, begin to descend rapidly, and at a steep angle. He thought Captain Downer must have lost control. He heard no explosion. One wing broke off and fell when the machine was 250 ft. from the earth. The wing was 50 yards away from where the machine fell. The fact that the machine was travelling too fast and too steeply accounted for the wing breaking. Another eye-witness said the machine "came down to earth like a firework." Experts explained an alleged explosion by saying that the noise heard was probably the wing breaking, and the smoke would be from the exhaust. There ware no signs of fire amongst the wreckage.
A verdict of "Accidental death'' was returned, the jury expressing sympathy with the relatives. Captain Downer was unmarried, and was a son of the Rev. Dr.Downer, a Church of England clergyman. His home was in Sussex. He served in the South African war in the 2nd Northants Regiment under Lord Methuen, saw the brunt of the fighting, and was present at the Modder River engagement. He received the King's and Queen's medals. He was with the 1st Northants in India, and entered the Staff College in 1911. Upon passing through this he became attached to the Flying Corps.
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