BRITISH AIR LINER

Grey River Argus, 4 June 1943, Page 6

BRITISH AIR LINER

SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN PLANE. LONDON, June 2. A British Overseas Airways Douglas was lost en route from Lisbon to Foynes. The passengers included Leslie Howard, the actor, ft is believed that the liner was shot down by; a German plane. The’ plane was a uutch K.L.M. liner, operating for the British Overseas Airways. The weather in the Bay of Biscay is rough, making difficult the search for occupants, wno may have escaped in rubber dinghies. A message from Lisbon says it is learned the Douglas was shot down over the Bay of Biscay. The British Overseas Airways Corporation in a statement said: “The Corporation regrets to announce that a civil aircraft en route from Lisbon to the United Kingdom, carrying 13 passengers and four of a crew, is overdue, and is presumed lost. The last message from the aircraft stated it was being attacked by enemy aircraft.’’

The Douglas left Lisbon at nine a.m. yesterday. The last communication received from the plane- was at 11 a.m. There were three small British children aboard. Leslie Howard arrived at Lisbon on May 27, on a lecturing tour under the auspices of the British Council. Howard nad postponed his return to England to be present at the premiere of his film “The First of the Few,” in which he played the part of K. J. Mitchell, designer of the Spittire.

A Fatal Film

AIRMAN SHOOTS HIMSELF. LONDON June 2. While actresses were being entertained at the officers’ mess, after performing at a' north-western hying school, Flying Officer Lyn Rees, 20, shot himself dead, in repeating an experiment he saw performed in the film “Honkjf Tonk.” Rees picked a revolver, borrowed a live cartridge and began spinning the chamber, stating he was working out the chances of the cartridge finishing in the- correct firing position. An orderly officer shouted to him to stoD, but after spinning the chamber several times, Rees put the revolver to his head and pulled the trigger. The cartridge was in the- correct position. In the film, Clark Gable and the villain are seen taking turns with the chance to decide who should die. A witness at the inquest to-day, told the Coroner there had been four similar accidents, following the exhibition in other places. The Coroner hinted that he would take steps to have the film withdrawn. A verdict of accidental death was returned.