Evening star., 1946-09-19
7 Sighted Alive
Near Wreckaqe
0fBe|gianP Plane
a Adults, Child Seen;
Former District Couple
Listed os Passengers
BY the Assoeioied Press

pr ths NSSoeloteo FFsss
NEW YORK, Sept. 19.-At least
five to seven persons we're re-
ported today as having survived
the wreck of a Atlantic
Belgian Sabena airliner which
crashed in the remote wilderness
Of Newfoundland, with A per-
sons, including 6 Americans,
aboard.
A Trans World Airlines pilot
aboard an inbound plane reported
seeing three persons at the side Of
the wreck and four others walking
about 4 miles from the scene
The Coast Guard said a plane Of
its North Atlantic Patrol reported
seeing five survivors including two
men, two women and child. 1t was
not established Immediately whether
there were others alive.
All Survivors Every Active
The Trans World Airlines plane
circled the scene for an hour until
other planes could arrive to take up
the rescue.
All the survivors were said to be
very active" and waved their coats
vigorously at the plane.
The pilot reported. according to
TWA, that the Schema plane was
completely burned though all in one
piece. Trees were leveled for 500
yards where it had smashed along
the ground. he said.
Former d. c. Couple on Plane.
1.-TWO former Washington resi-
dents, Mr.. and Mrs. william
M. Wilson, who left here about
20 years ago, we're listed among
the passengers.
(Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Meyer,
BIT Tennyson street NV,
parents of Mrs Wilson, and Mrs.
j. j. Fegan, 1907 Upland terrace
NV, sister of Mrs. Wilson,
learned that the couple were
aboard the plane when friends
! phoned from Short Hills, N. j.
The Wilson's lived in Short Hills.
tOther relatives here are Miss
Helena Meyer, Of the Tennyson
street address, and William F.
Meyer, 2313 North Albemarle
street, Arlington. a sister and
brother of Mrs. Wilson Mr..
|, Meyer works in the composing
! room of The Star.
while living here, Mr.. Wilson
/ was with the Patent Office, but in
recent years had been a patent
attorney with the International
! Business Machine Co in New
| YORK. .-...--....--
/ (Mr. Wilson flew to Europe in
June ON business and Mrs. Will
son flew over in August to meet
him in Paris. Mr.. Wilson'S age
| was given as SIS and Mrs. Wilson,
| 54.
Wreck in Difficult Country"
The wreckage was reported on q
hillside in very difficult country"
Survival kits were dropped by the
Coast Guard plane soon after the
Trans World Airlines plane spotted
them.
The Coast Guard said a ply
plane landed with rescue team on
lake four or five miles from the
crash and slowly was making its
way across rocky, hilly country. Two
Army rescue teams also were to be
landed near the scene.
| Earlier, Sabena, the company op-
Grating the plane, said a rescue
party was rushing to the scene %
miles southwest of Gander.
| The airliner made a last report
to the Gander field at 3:37 am. yes
terday when it said it had sufficient
fuel to last about eight hours:
Made Approach to Field.
The plane, with crew of seven
and 81 passengers, made an instru-
ment approach to the field at that
time, roared overhead and disap-
peared in fog.
If only a few occupants of the
plane are found alive it would be the
worst commercial airplane crash in
history.
The Civil Aeronautics Board said
a death toll of 27 was the highest
recorded on its files for commercial
plane crashes.
The Coast Guard reported here
last night a flying boat searching
for the plane sighted three wrecks,
one apparently new" but poor
visibility prevented satisfactory ex-
animation from the air or landing
on lake in the area. The search
plane crew said no sign Of life
was seen near any of the wrecks.
Left Brussels Tuesday.
Yesterday, the Coast Guard said
it received message from the North
Atlantic Patrol stating an outbound
C-54 passenger plane, not otherwise
identified, reported seeing wreckage
northeast of Gander But searchers
(See PLANE CRASH, Page A-22)