Ping-Pong Plop

Baron Bror Blixen-Finecke is a distant cousin of Denmark's King Christian. His first wife is a middle-aged woman named Ellen, who divorced him in 1921, wrote best-selling Seven Gothic Tales in 1934 under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen. Baron Bror's second wife is a pert, pretty, English girl of 28, named Eva, who spends most of her time seeking adventure. During one long trek alone in Africa, her automobile broke down. She had to be pushed by natives for 32 days. In Ethiopia last year she watched the war.

Early last summer the Baroness decided to cap these exploits by flying the North Atlantic. In July she arrived in Manhattan with a dour, 31-year-old Swedish pilot named Kurt Bjorkvall and the backing of the Stockholm Tidningen-Dagblad. Acquiring an old Bellanca high-wing monoplane with one motor, they announced they would fly from Floyd Bennett Field to Stockholm.

Ten times the airship Hindenburg flew the Atlantic. Two Lufthansa flying boats made the trip twice. Beryl Clutterbuck Markham accomplished the hard East-to-West passage solo. Crooner Harry Richman and Pilot Dick Merrill went over and back. Meantime the Blixen-Bjorkvall Bellanca, loaded with ping-pong balls like Harry Richman's Lady Peace, never left the ground. Its take-off for Stockholm was constantly postponed, apparently because the pair were finicky about the weather. This did not bother Baroness Blixen-Finecke. The blonde noblewoman was having so much fun partying on Long Island that she could not find time even to complete her radio lessons.

Last week, tired of the delay, the Tidningen-Dagblad suddenly withdrew its backing. Behind the Baroness's back, Pilot Bjorkvall bought the plane himself.

At a Long Island party two nights later, Baroness Eva was tipped off that he was about to take off alone. Bundling into flying togs, she dashed at dawn to Floyd Bennett Field where Pilot Bjorkvall at first would not speak to her. Eventually she cornered him in a hangar from which she presently emerged in tears. Said she. "I'm grounded. ... I expect he wishes to have all the publicity. I'm mad, but I'm a lady and cannot swear."

Said he: "What the hell! I better fly solo. I'll take a chance. But having a woman with you ... is too much responsibility. If I get drowned, okay. But if she gets drowned, there'd be trouble."

Flyer Bjorkvall did not drown, but he nearly did. After fighting heart-breaking weather for 2,400 befogged and snowy miles, he suddenly found his engine overheating. With great luck he encountered a French trawler, succeeded in plopping safely into the chop beside her. Gushed he by wireless next day: "I felt myself being lifted over the rail while a voice cried, 'Courage, mon brave!' I believe that, for the first time in my life, I must have fainted."

Sniffed Baroness Eva Blixen-Finecke: "I'm sorry I did not go along. I would not mind a little water."

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