SOVIET FIGHTER PILOT BLAMED FOR BERLIN CRASH

Grey River Argus, 22 April 1948, Page 5

SOVIET FIGHTER PILOT BLAMED FOR BERLIN CRASH

LONDON, April 19. The British Court of Inquiry into the ct fiision between a British airliner and a Soviet fighter over Berlin on April 5, reported that there was no evidence to show that there was anything but an accident. The. report exonerated the airliner pilot ' from all blame. The cause of the accident was the Soviet fighter’s action, which disregarded the accepted rules of flying and particularly the quadripartite flying rules to Berlin. It said the Soviet fighter, after performing aerobatics, dived from a considerable height, made a steep climbing turn and collided haad-on with the airliner. An examination of the wreckage of the Soviet fighter showed that it was not preparing to land. The airliner was outside the twomile circuit of the Soviet aerodrome at Raglow when the collision occurred.

Claim for Compensation In the House of Commons, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Ernest Revin, said that in view of the court’s finding, Britain would claim compensation from Russia. Asked whether jet fighters would escort British airliners if there was further interference, Mr Bevin said: “I am going to assume the Soviet is going to be sensible. Therefore I won’t indulge in threats.” The British authorities in Berlin sent a copy of the court’s report on the crash to the Deputy Soviet Commander, Lieutenant-General Dratvin. The court’s letter to General Dratvin added that fif 'the Russians wanted further clarification, Air Commodore Waite, head of the Inquiry Commission, would meet them. CABLE ? (|‘-l -5-a-01, shrdlu shrdbm Jewish Memorial.—Jewish delegates from 20 nations marched to the centre of the ruined Warsaw ghetto, where a memorial Was unveiled to the 6,000,000 Jews who perished during the war. The memorial was built of 200 tons of granite and bronze. The Germans intended to use the granite to erect a triumphal Nazi arch. The memorial depicts fighters of the ghetto rising in 1943.—Warsaw, April 19.

Russians Blame> British for Crash

(Rec. 9.0). LONDON, April 21, Moscow radio stated to-day that a Russian court of inquiry into the Berlin air crash established that the British Viking hit the Russian Yak fighter. The court found that the Yak was on a training flight around the Russian airport at Dalgow. and had lowered its undercarriage in preparing to a "The British plane, which shot out of the clouds, hit the Yak’s tail, causing it to lose control and crash . The Tass Agency, quoting the court’s findings, said: “The reason for the collision was the British planes violation of the rules of flight, and its piercing through the clouds, lhe British Administration did not request, and therefore did not receive preliminary permission from the Berlin air safety centre for the British plane's flight, although the rules of the Air Force Directorate of the Control Council make it obligatory to receive such permission”. # The court also' accused the British authorities of “wrecking” Russian efforts for a joint Anglo-Soviet investigation into the collision.

Soviet Again Given

the Lie in Berlin

BERLIN, April 20. At a meeting of the four Allied deputy commandants, the United States Deputy Commandant, Colonel Babcock, described the Russian accusations that the British were taking five times more out of their sector ot Berlin than they were bringing into it, and the Americans six times more, as “the biggest collection of falsehoods since Ananias”. The Soviet Deputy Commandant accused his British and American colleagues of swearing at him, instead of finding logical answers to his accusations.

Russian Ships Cause Alert at Panama Canal

(Rec. 9.30) PANAMA CITY, April 21

American airmen and troops in the Panama Canal zone have been placed under a general alert. The authorities said it was part of a “general schedule,” but if coincided with the passage of five Russian fishing ships through the canal. Military police, some armed with light cannon, lined Fourth of July Avenue, which is the boundary line between Balboa and Panama City. The Soviet .ships were heavily guarded while at Cristobal on the Atlantic side. They completed •, the passage without incident and tied up overnight in the Balboa anchorage.

Twenty-three Russian vessels have passed through the canal so far this year.

Norway Wants No Pact with Russia

OSLO, April 19.

The Norwegian Foreign. Minister (Mr Malvard Lange) said to-day that Norway would not enter into a separate military pact with Russia. The Government had considered what attitude it should take if Russia asked for a military pact. He added that he did not believe it likely that Russia would ask for such a pact.