Pilot in first mid air collision later won Indy 500.

[buzz]

Beginning around 1910 (Rene) Thomas (1914 winner) flew airplanes for the Antoinette company whose president was Leon Levavasseur. Hubert Latham was one of Thomas's fellow Antoinette test pilots. Thomas competed in early aviation competitions throughout Europe. In Milan Italy in October 1910 Thomas was involved in the world's first mid-air collision when his Antoinette monoplane fell onto the Farman biplane of England's Captain Bertram Dickson. Thomas miraculously wasn't seriously injured but Dickson suffered internal injuries and never fully recovered and died in 1913..

[cornutt]

I've read about that midair before and wondered if that Rene Thomas was the same person. Thanks.

[LittleFauss]

....'buzz, 'Very interesting bit of trivia but wow, I hope Rene Thomas' fellow countryman, Jules Goux never flew for Antoinette or later, Air France (if there was such a thing back then) because he loved to drink! And I'm afraid of, would have had MANY mid-air collisions!