Category: Newspaper Reports

  • Trail to survival

    Trail to survival

    John Hamshire, Daily Express Wednesday April 11th 1973 FOOTPRINTS in the snow led rescuers to survivors from the Vanguard, which came down onits back after wingtip struck a fir tree. They were made by a passenger who staggered out of the wreckage-and stumbled on a search party from nearby Hochwald.  He spoke no German, but…

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  • These 68 booked a trip to disaster.

    These 68 booked a trip to disaster.

    Western Daily Press April 11th 1973 THE 68 passengers booked through Mendip Travel of Yatton were:  FIVE members of Cheddar Mothers’ Group: J. Baker, Mrs. Mrs. Edwards. Mrs. G. Heritage, Mrs. A. Latham, Mrs. H. Lane.  SIXTY-THREE members of Abridge Townswomen’s Guild and relatives: Mrs. B. Hopkins, Mrs, V. Avery, Mrs. Gould, Mr. R. Keen, Mr.…

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  • The Queen distressed 

    The Queen distressed 

    Western Daily Press April 11th 1973 The Queen sent this message from Windsor Castle to Mr. Heseltine: “I was very distressed to hear of the crash of the Vanguard of Invicta International Airways in Switzerland today, with such a heavy loss of life. “Prince Philip and I send our deepest sympathy to the relatives of those…

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  • The plane 

    The plane 

    Western Daily Press April 11th 1973 THE VANGUARD, powered by four Rolls- Royce Tyne turbo-prop engines and seating from 130 to 140 passengers, was built by the British Aircraft Corporation. The Vanguard which crashed yesterday was originally delivered to Air Canada in July 1962. It was sold to Air Holdings in 1968 and acquired by Invicta…

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  • The waiting and the praying in Axbridge 

    The waiting and the praying in Axbridge 

    Western Daily Press April 11th 1973 By Mary Wright, Martin Turner and Wilf Giles  THE GRIEF-STRICKEN town of Abridge was dazed by the tragedy. In the pubs radios were turned up to full volume to tell them the grim news of the mounting death toll. In the narrow streets townsfolk stood talking in muted tones, wondering…

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  • What went wrong? 

    Evening Post Wed April 11th 1973 One of the Swiss investigating officers, Mr. Rene Hodel, told me insufficient that reports still reports to been compiled to give a real indication. But it appears the Vangard made least one at approach from the north and overshot the runway without landing because of the bad visibility. It then…

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  • Appeal launched for victims 

    Appeal launched for victims 

    Evening Post Wed April 11th 1973 A big appeal fund to help those stricken by the disas- ter was launched this after- noon by Axbridge Rural Council chairman John Walter. Bristol United Press, pub- lisher of the Evening Post and Western Daily Press, immediately announced that they would make an initial gift of £1,000. GRIEF It…

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  • Swiss tell of horror in the Snow 

    Swiss tell of horror in the Snow 

    Western Daily Press April 11th 1973. Stephen Chadwick, former Western Daily Press sub-editor  RADIO contact with the crashed plane was lost between 10 and 10.10 a.m. after it overshot Basle-Mulhouse airport in fog and driving snow, airport authorities said last night. Five minutes later the plane vanished from the radar screens, heading south to the…

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  • The woman who saw it dream 

    The woman who saw it dream 

    Western Daily Press April 11th 1973 By Garth Pearce  MRS. MARIAN Warron, who should have been on yesterday’s death trip, sold her ticket at half-price after a nightmare premonition of the crash. She saw the horror of exactly what happened In a dream three weeks ago. “I saw the plane come over some trees and crash…

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  • 34 of those who lived

    34 of those who lived

    Western Daily Press April 11th 1973 34 of those who lived THOSE known to have survived the crash are: Miss J. Besley, Mrs. J. Bowen, R. Bowen, Mrs. M. Carver. Mrs. S. Cole (already released from hospital). Mrs. I. Hooper, Mr. B. Jones (out of hospital). Mrs. M. Sampson Mrs. K. Scott, Miss L. Simmonds,…

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