STRUGGLE IN MID-AIR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 241, 25 July 1935, Page 6

STRUGGLE IN MID-AIR

RUSSIAN AEROPLANE INCIDENT. A mad struggle in mid-air over Moscow between a Red army pilot and a terrified cameraman nearly resulted in disaster when the giant air liner Maxim Gorki, was lost with 49 lives.

The cameraman had been sent up to photograph the contact between the huge liner and a small escort ’plane. This last ’plane caused the disaster by hitting the Maxim'Gorki during a stunt.

When he saw what had happened, the film operator, panic-stricken, seized Iris’ pilot: by the throat, dragging him backwards and making him lose control.

The ’plane was hurtling to earth when the pilot, with all his strength, hit his passenger in the face and regained control of the machine just in

time. Moving scenes were witnessed at the funeral of the Maxim Gorki victims. The 42 urns of ashes and the seven red coffins of those whose relatives had refused cremation were taken in a fourmile procession' across Moscow to the quiet little cemetery outside the walls of the old monastery, where Stalin’s wife is buried. Thousands of wreaths, some rich, some humble, came first, carried, by delegates. Then, followed a military band, families of the victims carrying their own unis, each with a portrait tied in front, another band, and seven hearses, eacli drawn by four black horses. Afterwards came many thousands of delegates. _ .■ The, urns were placed in niches in the outer wall of the old monastery, and the coffins were buried beside them. Twenty-seven war ’planes circled overhead.