EX-AIRMAN’S PROTEST BOMB ON U.N.: PLEA FOR PEACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 5

EX-AIRMAN’S PROTEST BOMB ON U.N.: PLEA FOR PEACE

(11 a.m.)

NEW YORK, July 23.

The police disclosed today that a former Air Force sergeant, Stephen J. Supina, who is alleged to have “bombed” the United Nations yesterday with a home-made bomb, had also dropped a note demanding peace.

The police said that near the spot where the bomb landed they found an envelope addressed to the Assembly and containing a Note and Supina’s discharge papers. Supina said lie did not want another war and urged the United Nations to work for peace. Mitchell Field, the Army air base, sent out six Black Widow fighters to search for the plane from which a home-made bomb dropped near the United Nations headquarters but later in the afternoon a plane landed at La Guardia field without communication with the control tower.

from the owner, Mr. Ray Ives, of Williamantic, Connecticut. Mr. Ives subsequently told the La Guardia Field authorities to detain the aircraft, saying that Supina was unauthorised to fly beyond the Williamantic area.

The police searched the plane and found a map of the Lake Success area with several United Nations buildings marked with crosses. They placed the aircraft under guard and a seach began for Supina who had not returned to the airport by his stated time.

The police found, he had registered as a student pilot at Williamantic. Mr. Ives said that Supina was training at his aviation school under an exserviceman’s grant. He was about 36. Supina had been “very much concerned” about the current European situation. He was a flight engineer and a turret gunner during the war. The police said that Supina’s brother had informed them that Supina was subject to hallucinations.

A member of the airfield staff who went to reprimand the pilot said the man gave his name at S. J. Supina. He seemed very nervous and spoke with with a Slavic accent. He borrowed 40 cents from a staff member saying he wished to go to the city but would return to the airport in about four hours. Supina said lie borrowed the plane