TIME OF PERIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

TIME OF PERIL

Dutch Air Hostess H Shots from Passengers

AIR hostess Anny Wynoldt, brown-haired girl of twenty-four, told me at her parents' home in Hilversum, Holland, how she kept passengers in a Dutch air liner from knowing they were being machinegunned by a German 'plane, writes a special correspondent of the Daily Express, London.

GU STAVE LAMM, a Swedish passenger, who was sitting in the back seat of the liner, was killed just after the air hostess had been talking to him. She pretended he was ill, laid him back in his seat, and covered him with a rug. Then she tended the dead man as though he had fainted. Miss Wynoldt said to mo: "I heard rattling on the 'plane, and I hurried to Pilot Moll to ask him what was wrong. Rattle of Bullets "The rattling was caused by German bullets. More came as I was on my way to the pilot, and one of these hit Mr. Lamm. "I-gave the other passengers papers and books, and talked to them about everyday things with a smile on my face,' but with death in my heart., because I was the only one who knew what had happened. "When passengers asked me about the rattling, 1 said the aerials had got loose. "I had a terrible moment when 1 went into the pantry. There was another burst of rattling, and bullets flew round me. - "Some of tho passengers smelleu burning. I said it was a small defect in

tho machine, and nothing to be afraid of. "Nobody olso knew that the machine had been struck by fifty bullets. The passengers knew nothing of the attack until wo landed. "I have been an air hostess for two months. A 'plane in which I flow from Greece not long ago was struck by lightning. "Nobody dies before his time. Tomorrow I shall fly to Brussels according to schedule.' "I just did my job; but I am very grateful to all tho people who have sent me telegrams', flowers and sweets today."