MAIL CRASH

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1934, Page 7

MAIL CRASH

DUTCH AIR LINER PARMENTIER’S MACHINE SEVEN OCCUPANTS DEAD FAST FLIGHT ATTEMPTED CENTENARY COMPETITOR By Telegraph-Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 1 a.m. Cairo, Dec. 21. The K.L.M. Douglas air-liner which was piloted by Messrs. K. V. Pannentier and J. J. Moll in the centenary air race and finished second, in attempting a record delivery of Christmas mails to Batavia and back to Amsterdam in five days, crashed near a spot ten miles south of Ruthbahwells. The plane was burned to cinders and the seven occupants were killed. The crew of the missing liner consists M of Commander Beekman, Mr. Steenbergen, second officer, Mr. H. Waslewyn, mechanic, and Mr. C. Vanzadefhoff, wireless officer. The machine carried three passengers, Mr. D. Berretty, Dr. D. Kort and Professor Waller, all of whom are Dutchmen. The plane left Cairo on Wednesday night. It was seen over Gaza at midnight, but no wireless signals were received since, and the plane was believed to be in difficulties in bad weather. It is feared the air-liner was forced down during a terrific thunderstorm. Bad visibility and the state of the ground make search difficult, both for aircraft and on the land. The air race competitor, Mr. G. T. Geysendorffer, piloting a Fokker, leftAmsterdam at midnight for Bagdad, flying as rapidly as possible. Using the Bagdad base, he searched for the missing Douglas plane, which was piloted by Commander Beekman with a crew of three. R.A.F. machines began a search which was later suspended owing to tempestuous weather.- It was resumed at dawn as conditions improved, and it was by R.A.F. planes that 1 the liner was found. Three nations arranged the search for the missing liner, of which there had been no news since it wirelessed Rutbahwells at 2.30 a.m. asking for its position. Additional British Air Force planes came from Bagdad. The K.L.M. company is hastily organising a spectacular dash, using another Batavian ■ air liner piloted by Captain Bsekman’s fellow pilots, Messrs. Geysendorffer and Sillevius. The plane will be loaded to capacity with petrol, food and spare parts. The ill-fated machine, which was described as a flying hotel, was found near the spot where she was when she sent a wireless message asking for her position. Thereafter nothing was heard from her. The plane was 250 miles from Baghdad, from which K.L.M. Company and British air force representatives are now flying.