November 9th, 1930, Miss Amy Johnson made a forced landing on the sea beach at Spurn.
The following extract is taken from the Hull Daily Mail, issue of 10th November 1930
Amy’s Alarming Experience When Flying to Hull
Miss Amy Johnson, C.B.E., while flying from London to Hull yesterday afternoon, met with a disconcerting but exciting adventure when she lost her way over the River Humber in darkness and fog.
Miss Johnson told a ‘Mail’ reporter this morning that she had left London about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and arrived over the Humber towards nightfall. Fog, which had been rather thin, commenced to thicken and she had to climb to avoid it. When she thought she was somewhere in the vicinity of Hull she descended from 6,000 feet through the clouds. By this time, it was almost dark. No trace of land could be seen.
Footnote: - Miss Vera Cross (daughter of Robert Cross – Lifeboat Coxswain) recollects that the plane landed between two groynes on the beach in an area of sand only just long enough for take-off and landing.
Over Open Sea
After cruising about she found herself flying over the open sea. An hour was spent in a vain endeavour to locate land, and when almost at desperation point, the lights of a passing steamer attracted her attention. Amy descended still lower, intending to land in the sea near the ship and swim to it.
Spurn light then appeared out of the fog and darkness and Amy was able to make a good landing on a small strip of sand. Neither she nor her machine was harmed.
Men in the Coastguard Station were staggered when Amy walked in into the Station in her flying kit, and it was some time before her story could be assimilated. The machine, “Jason 2” was secured and then Miss Johnson communicated with her home in Park Avenue, Hull. Mollie and Betty, Amy’s sisters, quickly got the motor car out and proceeded to Kilnsea.
The Journey Home
Amy was about to walk from Spurn Point to Kilnsea, as there is no road, when Mr. Cross, one of the helpers, brought out the rail car, and the five mile journey was done in quick time. At Kilnsea, where the rails end, the famous flyer’s sisters were waiting, and the journey home was concluded by about 9 p.m.
Amy said that her machine had become lodged in the soft sand and had asked a man to keep guard over it through the night. She returned in the morning for her plane.
Amy Johnson CBE (born 1 July 1903 – disappeared 5 January 1941) was a pioneering English pilot who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia
The Puffin at Spurn and the Moth at Sewerby Hall, are dedicated to Amy Johnson.
The above article is taken from the book “The School at Spurn Point 1893-1946”