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From The Dragon's Wings Later, in the same month that Byron O'Hara crashed at Tengya, "a second Ford, piloted by Charles Sharp, caught fire on approach to Nanking. Sharp landed safely but the fire could not be contained and the aircraft was destroyed." From the Ft Worth Star Telegram, March 31, 1936 C.L. Sharp, Jr. of Fort Worth, airmail pilot in China, who yesterday saved his passengers and mail in spectacular landing at Shanghai-Nanking. After the mail and passengers were removed, the plane was destroyed by a gasoline tank explosion. PILOT ESCAPES BURNING PLANE Charles L. Sharp, Jr. of Fort Worth, pilot of a Shanghai-Nanking airliner, saved his passengers and mail yesterday in anexpert landing, according to an Associated Press dispatch. He brought his burning ship to the airport and removed his passengers and mail a few minutes before the craft was destroyed by a gasoline tank explosion. Sharp is the son of Rev and Mrs. L.L. Sharp. In 1933 he went to China to train Chinese fliers to be pursuit pilots. He is a graduate of the old Central High School and won numerous trophies here as a swimmer. He finished his aviation training at Brooks and Kelly Fields with high honors. Last July he flew over the flood area of the Yangtze River in China to make a report to the Chinese government on the flood conditions. His parents yesterday sent him a cablegram which said, "Congratulations. May all your landings be safe. Mother well, all happy. Mailing computer. Send news. Love from dad, mother, sister, auntie.." South China Morning Post, 1 April 1936 C.N.A.C. PLANE BURNT: Pilot s Fortunate Escape Without Injury The east bound passenger plane of the China National Aviation Corporation which left Hankow yesterday morning for Shanghai, was burned after a forced landing at the aerodrome at Nanking. The fire broke out when the plane was nearing Nanking at 2:15 yesterday afternoon. The pilot in charge at once landed the machine at the aerodrome and escaped injury. No passengers were on board but the machine was completely destroyed except the two wings. The damage is estimated at $200,000. China Weekly Review, 4 April 1936, p. 167 C.N.A.C. Plane Catches Fire in Mid-Air at Hsiakwan Two pilots of the China National Aviation Corporation s No. 25 eastbound Ford plane on the Shanghai-Hankow line miraculously escaped almost certain death when the plane, taking off from Hsiakwan river front caught fire in mid-air March 31. Immediately upon the outbreak of the fire in the motor, a forced landing was effected. Fortunately no passenger was on board and the pilot and co-pilot both escaped unscathed. With the exception of the two wings, the plane, including the engine, was burned beyond repair. The burned plane, which was on regular service on the Shanghai-Hankow line, cost about $200,000 and is fully insured.  or would like to be added to the CNAC e-mail distribution list, please let the CNAC Web Editor, Tom Moore, know. Thanks! |