Shirley May France of Somerset, Mass, had spent six weeks warming up for her second try at the English Channel. Six boatsful of reporters and radiomen were ready to follow her across. Shirley May herself was pretty confident. At 17, she was a year older, twelve pounds heavier (168), and a year wiser about the Channel than when she tried and failed last summer (TIME, Sept. 19, 1949). A little before 3 one morning last week, Shirley May, well-coated with sheep grease, waded into the water at Cap Gris Nez and struck out for...
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