STRUGGLE IN MID-AIR

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 11

STRUGGLE IN MID-AIR

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 contrast 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 his 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 urns, each with a portrait tied in front; another band, and seven hearses, each 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.