Evening star., 1929-06-28

NNOA41AIluCd VAOuA EAoO dHCsy
cessfully completed, although Burgin
said that the two planes were tossed
around by the wind like toy balloons.
Ashcraft's neck was broken in the
crash. Miss Gentry, suffering from in
ternal injuries, both arms broken and
lacerations, was conscious when pulled
from the wreckage and asked What
happened?"
Their plane took of from Roosevelt
field at 8:49 pm. yesterday, with 1l6
gallons Of gasoline. It is believed their
gasoline ran short and the plane
crashed into the tree near a nursery
200 feet from the Jericho turnpike,
Girl Ignorant Of Pilots Death.
Henry Hicks, proprietor Of the nurs-
cry, heard the accident. He said there
was no noise from the motor. The gas
oline tanks and carburetor were later
found to be dry.
The plane landed on its nose, the
motor buried far in the ground. Ash
crafts body was wedged between the
motor and the ground. Miss Gentry
was found on top of the gas tank, with
one foot tangled up in the wreckage.
She was bleeding profusely and was
hySterical. She lapSed into uncon-
an ambulance.
Regaining consciousness soon after
arriving at the hospital, Miss Gentry
asked about Ashcraft, but she was not
told of his death.
A heavy fog blanketed the flying field
and surrounding country for several
hours this morning. This was believed
to be a contributing factor as to the
cause Of the accident.
Arthur Ward, an employe ut the
Hicks nursery, said Miss Gentry's plane,
The Answer, had barely cleared water
tank before 1t hit the tree.
Note Tells Of Fog Bank.
The Answer was last seen over Roose-
yelt Field about 6:15 am. A mechanic
on his way to work later found a note
which had been dropped from the plane
saying that the gasoline was running
low but there was enough in the tanks
20 last two hours. The note described
the fog bank as about 80 feet thick.
A clock in the plane. which was
broken in the crash, had stopped at
6I5 O'Clock
Ashcraft, SO years old, was born In
Protection, KanS. He had been q flyer
for q number of years and was con-
sidered an expert pilot. He figured in
serious accident in Baton Rouge, La,
In 1924, while with flying circus. His
passenger at that time was killed and
Ashcraft was in q hospital for q long
period recovering from injuries.
Miss Gentry was formerly q cashier
in a restaurant. She attracted atten-
ton early in 1925 by plotting Q plane
under the Brooklyn and Manhattan
Bridges over the East River, in New
York.
Set Record for Women.
In 1928 she set an endurance solo
record for woman flyers by staying in
the air over Roosevelt Field for hours
and 81 seconds
After her record was bettered In jan
/ uary, Miss Gentry made an attempt to
regain her endurance title, but cracked
up her Swallow plane In taking of from
| Roosevelt Field. Plans for another at
| tempt at the record in March we're
postponed because Of unfavorable
| weather.
Miss Gentry did not take the air
again until last week when she and
Charles w. Parkhurst went up In an
unsuccessful attempt TO establish q new
fefueling endurince record.
Fog Delayed Refucling Ship.
The Answers refueling ship arrived
at Roosevelt Field this forenoon from
Hartford, Conn, where 1t had taken
of at S.45 am. The plane had been
delayed by the fog.
Carl Dixon, Claude Kincaid and
Joseph Baltrun, members of the crew
of the refueling ship and all close