THE CALPURNIA CRASH

Evening Star, Issue 23128, 30 November 1938, Page 11

THE CALPURNIA CRASH

NO TRACE OF MISSING CREW SALVAGE OF ALL MAIL UNLIKELY (Independent Cable Service.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BAGDAD, November 29. The Calpurnia’s mail includes 65 bags for Australia and 69 for New Zealand. R.A.F men are trying to salvage the letters from burst mail bags, some of which, destined for New Zealand, were found floating on the lake, but it is unlikely that all will be recovered. There is no trace of the three missing members of the crew. It is feared that their bodies are under the wreckage. Captain Attwood, who was 49, was making his last trip after 12 years of service. He was due to begin work as deputy director of civil aviation in India. DIVERS AT WORK SIXTY MAILBAGS RECOVERED. BAGDAD, November 29. (Received November 30, at 8 a.m.) Divers are working on the Calpurnia’s wreckage, and it is believed that the three missing men are under the forepart of the machine, which was most heavily damaged and submerged. Sixty sodden mailbags have already been salvaged, in addition to hundreds of letters which boats of the Sailing Club retrieved while they were floating on the surface of the lake. Anderson and Harrison are suffering from shock, and are at present in the Royal Air Force hospital at Habbani. [Anderson was the steward on the Calpurnia and Harrison a probationary station officer.] FIRST OFFICER SPOTTISWOODE A RELATIVE IN AUCKLAND. [Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 29. First Officer A. N. Spottiswoode, of the flying boat Calpurnia, who is aged 31, lives near Southampton. He is a half-brother of Mr L. Courtenay Atwool, of Auckland. The missing airman is a graduate of Cambridge University, where he took an arts degree. While at Cambridge he was very keen on motor racing and was a prominent member of the University racing chib. Upon leaving the University, First Officer Spottiswoode joined the Royal Air Force and served for six years. For some time he was on the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Furious. He had a remarkable escape from drowning during the Abyssinian war. HALS. Furious was on her way to the Mediterranean and was battling through heavy seas in the Bay of Biscay when one enormous wave swept First Officer Spottiswoode from the deck cjjf the aircraft carrier. But for the prompt manoeuvring and rescue work of one of the escorting destroyers, he would have been drowned. First Officer Spottiswoode joined Imperial upon leaving the Royal Air Force and has been in the company’s employ during the past two years.