ATLANTIC FLIERS KILLED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 7

ATLANTIC FLIERS KILLED

CRASH OF LITHUANIANS WRECKAGE FOUND IN FOREST DISASTER IN POMERANIA ■ 1 THEIR DESTINATION-NEAR By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. • ; Berlin, July 17. The wreckage of the aeroplane “Lithuanica” and the bodies of . Stephen Darius and Stanley Girenas, the two LithuanianAmericans who left New York on Saturday on a flight to Lithuania, were found in a pine forest at Kuhdamm, Pomerania, 380 miles from Kovno, the capital of Lithuania and their intended destination. •

The police believe that the airmen mistook the treetops for a meadow and tried to land owing to petrol shortage. A farmer heard the crash early in the morning. The weather was bad throughout the night- ' A notebook found contained the words: “Flying Chicago-New York-Kovuo.” Kovno was unaware that the Lithuanica had crashed, and a large crowd, inelu.'ing the Prime Minister, awaited its arrival at the aerodrome all night. It was first reported that a third body, believed to be that of a stowaway, hH been found under the wreckage, but the police were later satisfied that there were only two men in the Lithuanica. .The error arose owing to the bodies being so mutilated. A Kovno message states, that national mourning has been ordered in honour of Darius and Girenas, who are being buried in Lithuania. , .. ~ appalling impact PLANE MOWS DOWN TREES. ONLY GALLON OF PETROL LEFT. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 5.5 p.m. Berlin, July 1.8 A woman gathering blueberries found the Lithuanica at dawn amid the debris. A big electric lamp was still alight. It is believed this may have been used as a searchlight and partly caused the tragedy. The fliers seeking a landing ground were heard flying low at midnight. At first they attempted a descent at Beslinchen, but the searchlight allowed the neighbourhood was unsafe. They.again attempted a landing at 2 o’clock in the morning,’ when the tree-tops, floodlit by the searchlight, apparently resembled a . field. „ The impact with the trees wastappalling. The machine mowed down a dozen tall pines. Both wings were, tom off and the motor was hurlted many feet and buried in the ground. Other parts' of the plane were 25 yards away. The airmen were killed instantly. Only a gallon of petrol was left in the tanks. .The airmen’s log showed that the plane kept a straight course from New York.