Evening star., 1950-06-26
.Searchers Are Certain
They Have Found Spot
Where Plane Sank
By The Assoe;o,ed Press

A grim search was under way to-
day in the depths of Lake Michi-
gan where it is virtually certain
that the lost Northwest Airlines
plane went down with So persons
aboard.
An airline representative left
little doubt that this resort COM
munity was the scene of doom
for the capacity loaded ship when
he identified a torn piece of blue
blanket early today. The blanket
was marked with the letters NV.
Other traces OF plane wreckage
and pieces of human bodies were
found on the lake waters last
night. An oil slick has been
sighted.
There was only the faintest
hope that any of the SIS paSsen-
gers and three crew members on
the DC-4 air coach could have
lived through the worst CONNER
cial air disaster in this country's
history.
Paul Benscoter, sent here by
the air line to help direct he
search for the big plane, looked
over some grim tokens of the
crash-bits of bodies, the blanket
fragment, a mans fur-collared
jacket. other pieces of clothing,
part of suitcase.
But he said a plane log and
maintenance report apparently
did not belong to the Northwest
plane.
Five Coast Guard cutters were
ordered to the scene during the
day.
Capt. Nathanial S. Fulford.
representing the commander of
the Ninth Coast Guard District,
said the matter of sending divers
down into the lake would be up
to the airlines operations men.
Investigators studied a theory
that the plane, flying nonstop
from New York to Minneapolis,
on a flight to the West Coast,
might have been hit by lightning.
Reports of residents of the vi
cinity and the discovery of rem
nants of human bodies gave some
support to this explanation. but it
was doubtful whether it could ever
be proved.
A Coast Guard patrol boat from
the station at South Haven, Mich,
came upon the gruesome evidence
last night after a long search of
the lake by fleets of planes and
boats.
The, Coast Guardsmen found a
part of a woman's skull. part of
a mans back. and a piece of
human stomach flesh.
The discoveries were made 12I
miles northwest of here and six
to eight miles. off shore. At. that
point the lake is ITO feet deep.
Chief Boatswain's Mate Frank
Rydlewicz. commander of the
South Haven guard station, said
he was certain the findings were
from the lost plane.
Thunderstorm Was Raging.
The airline announced it will
give accommodation to kin of
the victims who want to come
here.
A thunderstorm with lightning
and winds of gale force was
raging as the plane was crossing
Michigan. The plane was last
heard from at 1915 am. (EST)
Saturday in routine" radio re-
port from Pilot Robert Lind, IS,
Hopkins, MINI. He asked per-
mission to fly at a lower altitude,
but the CAA control tower at
Minneapolis denied his request.
Capt. Lind made no mention of
a storm. ~.
However, Mrs. Bertha Busse, so,
and R. P. Helm, a Naval Reserve
officer, both residents of this area,
told of flash in the sky" and
"red and white burst"
Mrs. Busse, who lives in Bridg-
man, Is miles south of here, re-
ported seeing "a big plane that
seemed to be in trouble" about
l am. She said she heard blast
and then "a flash in the sky"
Mr.. Helm, who lives II miles
north. said a flash of lightning
was followed by a "red and white
burst" a second blast, and then
smoke"