THE British enjoy nothing better than a heroic failure – and Fred Simon, of Woolston, Southampton, fitted the bill perfectly.

In October 1910 he was part of a group attempting to fly across the Atlantic in a small airship – only to crash into the sea and be rescued by a passing liner.

Fred, then aged 29, together with five other adventurers, made up the crew on the airship, owned by American journalist, explorer and keen aeronaut, Walter Wellman.

Together they planned a daring attempt to fly over the Atlantic. They took off from the east coast of the USA and set a course for Europe.

After making his money in newspapers, Wellman, who died in 1934, tackled many different expeditions, including a failed attempt to reach the North Pole, before trying his hand at ballooning in the Arctic.

His airship, America, was to be his most ambitious project to date, so when he looked round for a navigator he convinced Fred to join the team.

After months of planning, the airship was ready for the big adventure and on Sunday, October 16, America let go her tethering ropes in Atlantic City and took the air.

Just 72 hours later, the airship was forced down into the sea.

Right from the very beginning, the flight |conditions were not auspicious, as the Hampshire Independent – forerunner of the Daily Echo – reported at the time.

Under the headline “Attempt to Fly Across the Atlantic - Gallant But Unsuccessful Effort - Rescue of Crew by Royal Mail Liner”, the newspaper reported: “One of the century’s great feats of daring came to a frustrated end when the Royal Mail liner, Trent, rescued the crew of the Wellman airship in the Atlantic ocean.

“Mr Simon said after leaving Atlantic City in heavy fog they headed north-east, and passed Nantucket.

"The fog thickened and off Nova Scotia winds drove the airship in every direction.

"Once they nearly collided with a schooner.

“The wireless apparatus attracted lightning and the airship was lowered to just a few feet off the water.

"When they attempted to rise after the weather was clear they had to throw several barrels of gasoline overboard.

“The next day the sun caused the airship gas to expand and America shot up to 3,000ft.

"Afterwards they lost gas, and had to throw overboard practically all their fuel to reduce weight.”

By sheer good fortune the liner Trent was spotted and came to their rescue.

As soon as the crew had been taken off the airship’s life-raft, the balloon went up in the air, sailed away and was soon out of sight.

Back in Southampton, Fred returned to his parents’ home in Woolston.