23 DEATHS IN DAKOTA CRASH IN FRENCH ALPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 March 1947, Page 7

23 DEATHS IN DAKOTA CRASH IN FRENCH ALPS

PARIS, March 16. Another avalanche almost engulfed a party which was continuing the search for bodies round the wreckage of an Air Force Dakota which crashed in the French Alps, near Chateau Barnard. The searchers heard a rumble as the snow broke away above them and dashed to safety as a 12ft wave of snow and ice swept past the aeroplane’s wreckage. The party has stopped the search but may resume it to-morrow. They found 16 bodies in the snow. Conditions are treacherous and the heavy snowstorm shows no sign of abating The searchers are sure that there can be no survivors of the 18 passengers and crew of five on board. The bodies found were partly covered by an avalanche, evidently dislodged by the shock of the aeroplane’s crash. All were badly mutilated. The wings and engines of the aircraft were torn from the fuselage. All that remained intact was a bouquet of frozen flowers lying on the snow as if thrown for a wreath over a cold grave. The aircraft was on a routine flight between Nice and Paris.