U.N. Truce Observer and Pilot Shot

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 5

U.N. Truce Observer and Pilot Shot

(10 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 29. The chief French United Nations’ observer in Palestine, Colonel Queru, was killed when his plane was shot down near Gaza says the British United Press correspondent in Haifa. Colonel Queru’s plane was piloted b a French officer and was flying over an Arab-held area when it was hit by a burst of machine-gun fire. Colonel Queru was killed instantly and the pilot, who was seriously wounded, died shortly after he managed to land the aircraft. The Associated Press correspondent in Tel Aviv says the United Nations’ officials said that Colonel Queru’s plane was painted white with United Nations’ markings. It has not been determined whether the plane was shot at in flight and crash-landed or whether it made an emergency landing and was shot On the runway. „ „ Count Bernadotte’s Chief of Staff, General Lundstroem said he was strongly of the opinion that Colonel Queru and his pilot were shot and killed at Gaza airport after they had left the aircraft. He said he had presented the Israeli Foreign Minister. M. Shertok. with a plan for the demilitarisation of the Red Cross area in the Holy City as part of the general plan for ending the fighting there, says the Associated Press correspondent at Beruit. General Lundstroem said he would present a plan to the Egyptians later after which he hoped the Jerusalem situation would be cleared up. The truce was being respected on all fronts except Jerusalem. The Egyptian Government, in a cable to Count Bernadotte, stating that Egyptian machine-guns had shot down Colonel Querus’ plane expressed _ the Government’s regret says the British United Press correspondent in Stockholm. ~ The cable stated that the United Nations’ markings were not visible and the plane was flying at 3000 ft. in the wrong corridor for access to Gaza.