White, Charles

White, Charles                1916 May 12^th                    Netheravon

Fatal Flying Accident

There was a fatal flying accident at Netheravon on Wednesday morning. Lieutenant Charles Douglas White, of the 60^th Rifles, attached to the Royal Flying Corps, was flying a Maurice-Farman-Shorthorn machine near the Flying School at about 5.15am, and after making a circuit which took about five minutes he attempted to land. Finding he had not room to get into the aerodrome, he went up again, and then dived too steeply to the ground.

He was found face downwards underneath the machine, with his skull and neck fractured and other serious injuries, and was dead when admitted to hospital.

It was stated at the inquest held by Mr F H Trethowan yesterday (Thursday), that Mr White was but 24 years of age, and his home was in London, SW. He has only been flying three weeks, and had not obtained his pilot’s certificate. His first solo flight was on May 8^th, before which he had had two hours in the air with no instructor, which was considered sufficient in his case.

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.