AMSTERDAM AIR CRASH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 5

AMSTERDAM AIR CRASH

AUCKLANDER'S REMARKABLE ESCAPE “A JAGGED, TEARING SOUND” LONDON, Nov. 21. With a vivid red scar showing on the top o£ his head, Dr. W. A. Fairclough, of Auckland, flew back to London from Amsterdam yesterday, lo the surprise and infinite pleasure of his friends. Dr. Fairclough was one ol the 12 passengers injured when the Dutch aeroplane flying from Berlin lo London crashed outside Amsterdam, killing six. After a few days in the Queen Wilhelmina Hospital, his request that he should be allowed to continue his journey to London was granted by the medical superintendent. A nurse accompanied him, and Croydon was reached last evening. It will be recalled that Dr. Fairclough, who had been in Vienna and Cologne, was travelling by air to London, via Berlin and Amsterdam. Th” airliner crashed in misty weather early on the evening of November 14, just a few miles outside the aerodrome at Amsterdam. The pilot had received a wireless message to keep to circling as the landing ground was not immediately clear. But the machine crashed, and the pilot and his assistant were among the killed. Recalling the accident, Dr. Fairclough said: "I really don't recollect much about the crash itself. I remember looking out of the window ana thinking that we seemed to be flying perilously close to the ground at what I thought was a very high speed. Then I heard a jagged, tearing sound. "The next thing I remember was crowling on my hands and knees, 1 was the first person to regain consciousness, and I saw distressing sights. 1 must have been about 100yds. away from the machine, and, thinking about it afterwards, I realise that I must have been unconscious lot some time because the blood on my coat was dried. “It was some time before help arrived, and I recall trying to assist u Canadian woman away from the wreck because I thought it might go up in flames. Afterwards, I remcm bered seeing a wing and the engines some distance away from the macnine, so really I need not have been v/oiried about this. "I walked about for some time, and I can remember seeing a woman's body taken out of a ditch and looking at the pilot’s body, terribly mutilated. They told me I was flung clear through the top of the machine. “Then I think 1 must have fainted again, because I could remember no mure until 1 woke up in hospital. The next day 1 came out in a mass ol bruises from top to toe. It was found that one of my ribs was broken, they took an X-ray—and gave a lectuie to students at the same time. The damage to the rib is not serious in itself, but Hie phrenic nerve is injured, and this interferes with the breathing of the right lung. “They were very good to us in hospital, and did everything they could. I lost none of my possessions. Everything was collected from the wreck and from the ground round the machine. Placed on trays, the various articles were brought round for us to pick out our belongings. There were my fountain pen, studs, umbrella, and camera unharmed, with films which I snail have developed. I had taken some snaps of Cologne during an exciting period. • I shall be staying in London for a time. I had booked to return by Imperial Airways to Australia —1 came Home that way—but until my injury is healed I shall not be able to breathe properly at any altitude, so I shad have to give up that idea." ' It is probable that Dr. Fairclougn I will go into a nursing home for a ■while, for although he says he is not ! ill, he is still feeling weak, and unable Go do many little things for himseil. From a professional point of view. Dr. Fairclough considers that the finlest clinics which he visited were at I Vienna and Utrecht. With the latter Jcentre he was particularly pleased.