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XI
in a north westerly direction and I could see the city of Severdsloft ? up ahead.  My route was just to the south west of the city. 

After rolling out straight and level and lining up on course I was checking my engine instruments, oxygen, etc. It was approximately one minute after the turn and at the most two minutes when I suddenly felt and heard a dull explosion.  It was not a bang or a loud noise but sounded like "WHUMP". Everything seemed to stand still for a long time.  It seemed as if time had stopped.  It couldn't have been more than a second but it seemed to me at least five minutes.

I remember saying to myself, maybe aloud I don't know, "Good Lord, I've had it now." I was begining to feel better because nothing happened and then the right wing droped. I picked it up with the controles and then the nose started going down.  I pulled the