Category: News Reports

  • Die Katastrophe von Hochwald

    Die Katastrophe von Hochwald

    This report was in a Swiss magazine has been first scanned and then translated from German so there are errors. But reading this account, including the mistakes, you get a different perspective to the British press stories.. The blind landing approach ended with death, tears and mourning. The unlucky plane “Invicta” Vanguard G-AXOP, which crashed…

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  • DISASTERS How Do You Tell The Children? 

    DISASTERS How Do You Tell The Children? 

    Time Magazine April 23, 1973 At 9:45 o’clock one morning last week, a four-engine Vanguard turbo- prop plane was fighting its way through an unseasonable blizzard to the airport of Basel, Switzerland, when it crashed into a nearby mountain. Of the 138 passengers and six crew members aboard, only 37 passengers and two stewardess- es…

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  • Three English Villages Sadly bury the Victims of Swiss Air Disaster

    Three English Villages Sadly bury the Victims of Swiss Air Disaster

    New York Times April 20, 1973 Women from this and six other communities nestling in the Mendip Hills of southwest England died on a charter flight to Switzerland that the tourist brochure described as a journey to “the fairy tale country for the day of your dreams.” They were headed for a Swiss spring fair.…

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  • Official lost of the dead and survivors

    Official lost of the dead and survivors

    Weston Mercury & Somerset Herald April 20th 1973 THE FOLLOWING is the list of the dead and survivors of the crash issued from the information centre at Axbridge:  THE DEAD  Weston: Mrs. K. M. Jenkins, Moorland Road; Mrs. B. M. Moore, 11 Selbourne Road; Mrs. Road. M. Moore, 11 Broadoak  Congresbury: Miss K. E. M.…

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  • Church packed for memorial service 

    Church packed for memorial service 

    Weston Mercury & Somerset Herald, April 20th 1973 More than 700 people packed St. Andrew’s parish church at Congresbury for a memorial service for the victims of the Swiss air dis- aster. Extra chairs were brought into the aisles, many stood in the porch, and others heard the service relayed in the refectory or on…

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  • 100 plane crash victims named 

    100 plane crash victims named 

    Weston Mercury & Somerset Herald April 20th 1973 Over the past few days the Evening Post has received many requests for names of those who lost their lives in the Swiss air crash.  Last night, the first official list of 100 victims was issued. It was:  Cathleen Atwell Davis (71) • Linda (66) • Davis…

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  • Village funerals for Swiss crash victims

    Village funerals for Swiss crash victims

    Daily Telegraph April 13th FUNERAL services for the victims of the Swiss air crash- flown home yesterday- will be held this week in Somerset villages. In Axbridge a service will be held tomorrow for 16 of the dead, some of them from Cheddar.Thirteen of the victims will be buried in a mass grave and three…

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  • THIRTEEN SWISS AIR CRASH VICTIMS BURIED IN MASS GRAVE. (1973)

    THIRTEEN SWISS AIR CRASH VICTIMS BURIED IN MASS GRAVE. (1973)

    British Pathe News report for the service and buriel of 13 victims of the Swiss Air Disaster April 1973. A mass grave in an English country churchyard marks the burial place of 13 victims who died last week’s air disaster in Basle, Switzerland.

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  • Bristol hit most by air disaster

    Bristol Evening Post Tuesday April 17th 1973 The official list of victims and survivors of the Swiss air disaster was read today’s meeting of Abridge Rural Council and showed that Bristol suffered more dead than any other place. Council chairman, CIr. John Walter, read out the list. The figures are: Survived Died Abridge 15 12…

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  • Crash fund may top £20,000 tonight

    Evening Post, Tuesday April 17th 1973 Crash fund may top £20,000 tonight Gifts pouring in for families bereaved by the Swiss air disaster looks like top- ping £20,000 by tonight. The general launched to cover fund the Axbridge, Cheddar, Congresbury and Wrington areas has now reached £11,085. The people of Basel have contributed more than…

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