Crashed U.N. Aircraft “Preparing To Land”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 13

Crashed U.N. Aircraft “Preparing To Land”

(NJZ.P A.-Reuter— Copyright) NDOLA (Northern Rhodesia), September 30. The pilot of Mr Dag Hammarskjold’s aeroplane had the undercarriage down and was preparing to land when the aircraft crashed last week, the commission of inquiry into the crash has established.

In the crash 12 days ago the Secretary-General's aeroplane came down to about 50ft. cut a swathe through t eetops. dipped to port and slewed left to crash to earth stout six miles from Ndola. The investigators believe all four engines were revving at the same pilch—another indication the pilot was prepared to make his run-in. .Ml this leads to the belief ti-.at the crash was a pure accident, well - informed sources said In New York all official meetings of the United Nations halted yes’erday as • tribute to Mr Ham.ua.--skjold. Crowds In Streets At Uppsala (Sweden* weeping crowds lined the streets yesterday when Mr Hammarskjold was buried in a simple family grave. People from all walks of life and from all countries had come to pay their last respects. Among hem were the Swedish Royal Family, the United Nations first Secre-tary-General (Mr Trygve Lie), members of the diplomatic corps and representaves of almost every mem-ber-country of the United Nations, including the Soviet Union.

The whole town was in mourning. Shops and offices had closed and rr?any of them had decorated their windows and

facades with portraits of Mr Hammarskjold, candles and mourning drapes. The British United Press said moat of the city's 70,000 population is believed to have stood in the streets. Throughout Sweden—from the Arctic to the farm villages of the south—church bells tolled. A one-minute silence was observed. The Associated Press said that in the ancient Uppsala Cathedral, where 2000 mourners gathered the massed voices of the choir swelled with the singing of a Swedish hymn: ''lf on the evil day the darkness claims me . . And I have no strength to carry the burdens of life . . . Then, Oh Lord, Your

love wiU carry me through. . . .”

Marked by six tall candles, the body of the United Nations second SecretaryGeneral lay before the altar. Flowered wreaths—enough to fill a country graveyard—were piled around the bier. Funeral Service

The funeral service was conducted by Dr. Erling Eidem, aged 81, former Archbishop of Sweden and a close friend of the Hammarskjold family, Reuter said. As the funeral cortege—nearly 100 yards longmoved through the streets, crowds, which had been gathering since the early morning, stood bareheaded in the afternoon sunlight. At the cemetery, the fading light of late afternoon fell softly over the tombstone, reported the Associated Press. The cortege finally halted before a solid granite tombstone to Mr HammarskjoM's father. Slowly the simple coffin, with its Royal wreath, was lowered into the grave. Swedish United Nations soldiers came to rigid salute.

There was an impressive hush among the mourners, as Archbishop Eidem read the final service.