AIR DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 264, 7 November 1929, Page 7

AIR DISASTER.

CRASH IN FLAMES. PLANE COMES TO GRIEF German Liner Burned—PilotPrince Aboard. SIX OCCUPANTS INCINERATED. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 10.30 a.m.) ;, LONDON, November 6. A German air liner from Croydon to Amsterdam crashed in flames at Marderi Park. Six were killed in the smash and two were injured, one, of whom, the second pilot, Prince von Schaiimburg-Lippe, was taken to hospital badly burned and almost unrecognisable about the face. The clothing had been burnt from his arms and legs, but he was still conscious when picked up. Harden Park is between Godstono and Caterham, in Surrey. When the 'plane left Croydon at 9.55 a.m. officials said that everything was then all righf. After passing Godstone the visibility was so bad.that the pilot turned back. He may have misjudged the height of the trees on Foster Down, which is part of the North Downs, for the 'plane apparently struck the edge of a copse and: ploughed through the trees deep in the wood, before finally crashing in flames. An eye : wstness stated that he heard a terrific roar and found a mass of tangled wreckage burning furiously. The 'plane struck the tops of several trees, one of which ■ was completely smashed inV.ftwo; burst into flames and fell to the ground. v.; . All , the bodies were burnt, four being almost unrecognisable. ; Prince's Rush for Help. A' British official wireless message giving .further details of the disaster states- 'that there were eight persons aboard the liner, four passengers and four of. a crew. Two persons escaped with injuries. . The dead are:— : Schinka, the first pilot. Tjirich,. mechanic. " . Nikias, wireless operator. Mr. I). Lγ. Jones, passenger to Amsterdam- ■ : !v ■.■'.-■.. ...■■. ... ' ;

; Mrv'G.-.W.:Milne,- passenger to Berlin. . Mr. Hi S. Gasper, passenger to Berlin. The injured are:—Prince von. SchaumbiirgrLippe/ . second pilot; LieutenantCommander Olen' Kidson, passenger.

../A-dense ,iog and low. clouds over the Surrey Hijls are believed to have caused the disaster, r which took.place when the /'plane, was. flying,.at,,,nea,rly 100 miles ■an'houn - The. wings were suspended I; pn /the -top ■of the trees, but the fusilage- . crashed through to. the ground -below.; Tlere- was. a loud explosion and-, the :-:i usilage- accommodating the passengers . ..burst into ..flames* ..• ■■•": ■; PrMc'e. von Stihaumburg-Lippe crawled frofn the wreckage and, :with blood streaming from his face : and hands, .Avent to a* cottage nearby. "He stammered in P6lish, ''Have you a telephone?" There being no telephone at the cottage the Prince rushed to the nearest telephone to {communicate, with-Croydon. " • liieutenant-Commander Kidson jumped clear:as;the 'plane came down. He tried to:;getthe other passengers out but was driven back by the flames. He was taken ' byicar? td the cottage hospital at Cater- ' Before this, however, he also insisted- upon telephoning the news of thei disaster to Croydon. ; :

tie Secretary for Air, Lord Thomson, has, i sent the following: message to the v German Minister of .Transport:—"The A^' Council have' heard with profound regret , of the accident to the liuf tshansa air/liner 103 en route from Croydon to - Amsterdam; and the loss of life involved."