AFLAME IN MID-AIR

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 7

AFLAME IN MID-AIR

XOSE-DIYE TO EAETH

IDENTITY OF VICTIMS

United Press Association—By Electric Tel^

Braph—Copyright.

(Beceived March 29, 1.30 p.m.)

LONDON, March 28.

It has been ascertained that the air liner burst into.flames in mid-air, apparently owing to the explosion, of ths fuel tank after leaving the aerodrome. The wreckage covered sit hundred square yards. The bodies recovered were almost unrecognisable. They; were taken to the Dixniuda morgue. Others are still unextricated.

It is believed the pilot was killed when . >the explosion occurred. The machine fell six hundred, feet.

Eight "passengers were British, three German, and one Belgian., Miss .Voss, a Cologne schoolgirl, was about to complete her education in England. Mr. Charles Bowsell, a mmmg1 director, was taking his firsf air trip. Mr. Hugh. Mcllraith and Miss Kay Mclkaith, brother and sister, 'hailed from Sydney. The pilot, Lionel Leleu, was born in, 1597, gained an infantry commission in war time, and joined the Imperial Airways in 1926. He had flowi. four

thousand hours.

The air liner was of the Argosy type, and is the first of that type to be concerned in an accident -involving injury to passengers. \ •

The disaster occurred at 2.45 p.m. ia perfect flying -weather. ■ The air liner hurtled to the earth a few moments after the wireless' operator had sent a message "All well." An eye-witness says that the machine fell as if caught in an air pockst. It nose-dived like a stone and struck a ploughed field with terrific force. The wreck soon became a furnace, preventing the villagers' attempts at rescue, but it was obvious that the victims were already dead..The pilot was completely, burned in. the cockpit: Another witness declares that after the machine was wholly aflame, it turned over several times, and the. pilot struggled to right it. One. account states that a man and women attempted' to parachute, but were too excited to follow instructions or too near the ground when, they jumped. The parachutes failed fully to open. '

Directly the flames permitted the police, aided by villagers, set to work to recover the bodies. Several charred forms can still be seen wedged ia the twisted steel.

A detached wing of the aeroplane nearly killed two little girls in a field. Major B'rackley, Air Superintendent of the Imperial Airways, has flown to the scene, with other officials. Belgian officials also motored to the* spot. Much of the luggage has been recovered intact. •

Gendarmerie are guarding the scene, where only the skeleton of the framework remains.