BLOWN IN HALVES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 670, 24 October 1933, Page 5

BLOWN IN HALVES

(Press Assn.-

BOMB IN AEROPLANE CAUSES SEVEN DEATHS PERISHFD IN FLAMES

— By TelegraDh— Copyright).

Chicago, October 15 The United Airlines 'plane which c: ashed while crossing -Indiana on Tuesday night killing seven people, v,ras literally blown in halves hy high explosives. This was announced hy David Colyer, vice-prcsident of United Airlines, following the Department of Justice investigation. What kind of bomb caused the ciestruction of the 'plane, and whether it was a liquid or solid explosive, p-obably never will be known, but indications are that explosive was stored in tbe cargo space aft. The passenger section, and rear seetion were torn apart higb in tbe air, and five passengers perished wben the 'plane caught fire on striking the g-round.

"It's not yet possible to traee why the explosive was aboard the 'plane," said Mr. Colyer, who added that the r.nmistakeable evidence of the cause cf the disaster came after a microscopic examination of particles of metal and cloth, found in the debris after the smash. The tail of the 'plane was found intact, where it had been blown off, a mile and a quarter distant from the main wreekage, and two unburned bodies lay alongside the tail. With the tail gone, the 'plane became uncontrollably nose-heavy, and dived to the earth. Eye-witnesses also testified tbat the first crash of tbe explosion occurred high in the air, but no flames intervened until the forward part of tbe 'plane hit the earth. Experts testified that the petrol explosion could not have caused the type of damage encountered.