Bomb-Laden Starlifter Makes Forced Landing

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32222, 14 February 1970, Page 11

Bomb-Laden Starlifter Makes Forced Landing

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter —Copyright) MILDENHALL (England), February 13. A United States Air Force Starlifter jet transport, with ;80001b of high explosives aboard and thought to be leaking poisonous gas fumes from a rocket-motor, made an emergency landing on the main runway of the Royal Air Force base at Mildenhall yesterday.

The crew had declared an in-flight emergency, and the base was put on a full-scale alert. People living nearby were told to stay inside their homes with all windows’ and doors closed.

The police closed the main trunk road which passes close to the base, linking London with Eastern England, and all traffic was diverted from the area

Three hours after the aircraft landed, a U.S.A.F. spokesman said that the leaking fumes had still not been confined and that strict safety precautions were still being taken.

Seventy children at a nearby village school were told to stay in their classrooms, but were later allowed to leave for home. Police cars with loud hailers toured the Mildenhall district, advising people to stay indoors.

The air base was completely sealed off, and even the local

fire brigade was turned away al the gates after being told that the situation was under control.

Later, the entire industrial estate nearby, where more than 200 people are employed, was being cleared. Families on a nearby caravan site were also told to leave. The Starlifter was eventually cleared as safe by American authorities at the base, who said that the aircraft was en route from the Ramstein) air base in West Germany to I Dover, Delaware. They added that after a

rthorough inspection, no exteri'nal leaks had been discovered r) in the Bullpup rocket motor ’aboard the aircraft.