CRASH FEARED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26703, 24 February 1948, Page 5

CRASH FEARED

LARGE FRENCH FLYING BOAT WRECKAGE FOUND IN ENGLISH CHANNEL N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent PARIS, Feb! 22. A French News Agency report says that wreckage has been found on the Normandy coast of France s giant stxengined seaplane which has been missing since Saturday with 19 prominent, French people on board. It was last, seen battling in a snowstorm over Cherbourg soon after leaving Lf* Havre en route to Biscarrosse. The aircraft is reported to have been without de-icing equipment. A later message says the wreckage of the missing flying boat has not ye:, been found, although villagers heard the plane strike the. water yesterday afternoon at a time which corresponded with the last radio signal from the plane. . ~ A patrol vessel is continuing the search in a snowstorm, and coast, guards and police are searching the eastern coast of Cherbourg Peninsula. The trade mark on a life preserver found in the sea appears to confirm that the flying boat crashed into the sea. . . . The plane carried five Air Ministry officials, seven aviation construction experts, and a crew of seven. It was a “ final experimental flight before going into service.” Trouble has always dogged this French “ Normandie of the Air. The war interrupted its construction. L made several forced landings on trial flights. It was intended for the South Atlantic air trade, but never entered the service.