The Washington times., 1918-07-08
GINO MET DEATH
TRYING NOSE DIVE
TOONEAR GROUND


N. Y, that Sergt, Gianfielice Gino, Of
the Royal Italian flying Corps, IA
nous here and in ezher cities for his
daring stunts in the air, was killed
there yesterday afternoon in an ex-
hibition flight.
While making a nose dive in view
OF the members Of the Italian mission
TO the United States and Maj. Gen.
William L. Kenly, director of military
aeronautics, whom he had just taken
for a successful flight, Sergeant Gino
plunged to the earth. the crumpling
Of his machine causing his death. He
landed within a hundred feet of the
nearest spectators.
Made Records Hero.
Sergeant Gino, who made exhibition
flights in Potomac Field, in Washing
ton, and who made records here for
dazzling spirals, loops. gIides, spins,
and other stunts, had been an instruc-
tor OF American flyers at MineoIa for
some time. He was the tutor of Capt.
Antonio Si1vio Resenati, the Italian
airman, who fell to his death at the
same field last May.
Sergeant Gino's first spectacular
flight in Washington was made April
Is, when he made three ascents from
the Potomac Park flying field. He was
the man to establish a new nonstop
record when ne flew 145 miles from
Hampton Roads, Va. to Washington in
one hour in April. He performed in a
small Sva battle plane while here.
Gino met his death while flying in
a Sva plane. Following the accident,
Giuseppe Bevions, chief OF the Italian
military mission for aeronautics, is
sued a statement in which he said
that the fall was due to the low altl-
tude at which Sergeant Gino attempt
ed his dangerous feat probably
through a mistake in judgment"
1t had been Gino's custom at the
Aineola flying field to spend Sunday
afternoons performing in the air.
Yesterdays accident followed a sue
cessful flight which he had made in
a larger machine, when, with General
Kenly as one Of the passengers, he
circled over the field with twenty-one
other planes in battle formation
Sergeant Gino had planned to ny
over Fifth avenue and drop flowers
over the funeral cortege OF Maj. John
Purroy Mitchell former mayor of
New York
italian ofaeiaI Report.
Following the fatal accident to the
italian aviator. Honorable Giuseppe
Bsvione. chief of the Italian military
mission for aeronautics in the United
States, yesterday. cabled the follow
ing report to the Italian government:
after Pilot Gino had been warmly
congratulated by Major General
Kenly and by all the other officials
who had witnessed his wonderful ex-
hfbition in a Caproni plane, he de-
cided to show the performance of
another Italian plane, the S. V. A
scout. single scatter, fitted with q Spa
engine of 205 horsepower.
pilot Gino for half an hour amazed
the witnesses with the daring exploits
he was performing in the air. such
a. numberless loops and exhibitions
OF high and exceptionally low speed,
demonstrated only a few yards from
the ground Unluckily, after that
he started in a terrible spinning nose
dive from less than 300 feet from the
ground. Probably through a mis-
taken valuation Of his height Pilot
Gfno was driven to about twenty
yards from the ground before at
tempting to assume the normal flying
position, when ii was evidently too
late The machine came crashing to
the earth, killing instantly the won
derfuI and unluclcy pilot who served
hl8 country up to his last breath, up
TO his last sacrifice, lavishIy giving
his talents and his own life"