SURVIVOR'S STORY OF CYGNUS CRASH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 64, 8 December 1937, Page 5

SURVIVOR'S STORY OF CYGNUS CRASH

-Prtis A«sn.-

Second Officer Dived Three Times to Open Hatch CREW EXONERATED

(Br Tele«r*ph-

-Copyright.)

(Received 8, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 6. A formal advertisement in The Times announces the death in the air crash at Brindisi of Captain William Ian Falconer MacDonald, of Wantabadgery, East Wagga, Australia, an& Falcon, Manor, Towcasfer, Northamtonshire. Tbe News-Ohronjcle says that he was squire of the village greens of Norton and Northampton. The Brindisi correspondent of the Australian Assoeiated Press says that Mrs. Ritchie has not recovered sufficiently to make a statement beyond saying that she is a sister of Captain MacDonald. Five American oil men had left the ffying boat Cygnus at Brindisi, entraining there. An American couple from Alexandria also left the plane at Brindisi. Thus the plane was lightened by seven p'assengers. Otherwise the casualty list might have been even heavier. The Cygnus has been hoisted out of the water and lies at a quay. One of the passengers, Mr. Robert Lutyens on his arrival at Eome today from Brindisi, gave the first account by the rescued from the Cygnus- He said that, fortunately, the hatehway was open. "I clambered out and swani to a motor launch whicb was coming to meet me, " he continued. "I experienced an awful moment when I felt the weight of my overcoat dragging me down, but I managed to get it off. "I witnessed the rescue work from the Imperial Airways tender. I have no words to describe the bravery of the crew of the Cygnus. The second officer, Mr- Mo>untain, dived three times to open the top hatch of the main compartment, He then dived again to rescue Mrs. Eitchie, who had been swimming about seeking her brother. " Mr. Lutyens added that a brief inquiry was held last night and that the Italian authorities exonerated the crew from blame or careiessness. "My opinion is that the aceident was oue of those exceptional apts of fate which should not be allowed to retard the progress of aviation," said Mr, Lutyens, He was wearing a strange a'ssortment ot clothes lent by porters and others. He carried a small paper parcel containing all his luggage which could be salvaged.