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1 correction by allanraymond - Show corrections

TWENTY-TWO KILLED

IN AIR CRASH

Crown Prince Gustav and

Grace Moore Dead

LONDON, January 26 (A.A.P.).-the Crown Prince of Sweden, Prince Gustav Adolf, and the world famous singer, Grace Moore, were among the 16 pas- sengers and six crew killed when a Dutch airliner crashed shortly after taking off from the Kastrup   Aerodrome, south of Copenhagen.

Miss Moore's pianist, Louis Petier, a Danish singer, Miss Gerda Naumann, and the Prince's adjutant, Count Steenbock, were also among those killed.  

The machine, a Douglas Dakota, took off from the snow-covered aerodrome bound for Stockholm. Shortly afterwards it banked, exploded in mid-air, and crashed in flames. The weather was overcast and

windy, but visibility was good when the disaster oc-

cured.

HEAT KEPT BACK RESCUERS

The American Associated Press cor- respondent in Copenhagen, in an ac- count oí the crash, says that the plane exploded and then crashed, but the British United Press correspondent quotes an eye-witness as saying that one engine exploded as the Dakota struck the ground after falling 150 feet, and the whole aircraft burst into flames. The heat kept back would-be

rescuers.

Grace Moore's husband (Valentin Perera) was travelling with ber on her European tour, but he is indis- posed in the south of France, where Grace Moore recently visited him. Her next major engagement was in South Africa, where her visit would coincide with the Royal tour. The well-known British accompanist, Ivor Newton, was to have accompanied her in Europe, but pressure of engage- ments cancelled this arrangement at tibe last minute.

MOURNING IN SWEDEN.

The Crown Princess Louise, the late Prince's stepmother and Lord Louis Mountbatten's sister, broke the news of her husband's death to Princess Sibylle. Special editions of the'news- papers gave the news of .the tragedy to Sweden, places of entertainment were closed, and the radio broadcast a memorial programme.

The plane's pilot was Ki.M.'s most experienced man. Captain G. J. Gey» sendórfter (54), who piloted the plane which crashedTat Allahabad in Octo- ber, 1934; Five 'dayy Mer, when Gey- sendorffer took off'again, the plane struck an airport vehicle, crashed again, and was completely destroyed by fire. Geysendorffer and bis fellow pilot jumped out unharmed.

A K.L.M. communique said that all. the plane's occupant's died instantly. The plane, soon after the take-off, began gaining altitude at an abnormal rate. The nose then fell and the plane

dived to the ground.

OVERLOADING DENIED.

The director of KX.M. (Dr. A/Ples man), interviewed by the newspaper "Trouw," gave three reasons why the allegations that the crashed Dakota was' overloaded were probably un- founded: (1) The plane, immediately after it took off, rose steeply, which it could not have done if it was over- loaded; (2) such an experienced pilot as Geysendorffer would never allow overloading; (3) the presence of. such an important passenger as Gustav

Adolf completely excluded taking any

risk.

The British accompanist, "Ivor New- ton, said that. few persons were sc i richly endowed as- Miss Moore.. "She I had wonderful looks, wonderful neala and a glorious voice," he said. ' New- ton added that Miss Moore always car- ried a large collection of jewels and orders, including the Legion d'Hon- neur, which she ¿vore at concerts. He wondered if they were destroyed ii

the fire.

Miss Moore was due to give a con- cert in Stockholm on January 27. Thi Prince, who was 41 years of age. wa returning to Stockhohn, after spendini several days as the guest of Prince Ber nard of the Netherlands. . His wife Princess Sibylle, gave birth to a son h the Haga Palace in April, 1946, ensur lng the succession to the Throne.

PLANNED AUSTRALIAN VISIT.

If taxation difficulties could have bee! overcome, Miss Moore intended to vlsi Australia in 1948. Miss Moore recentl; said in Paris that she was eager to vlsi this country to try Australians' "won derful voices." She intended to pro duce her favourite opera, "Louise," wit! an Australian chorus.

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