I am doing some research on Dag Hammarskjold and I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction regarding details of the DC 6 crash near Ndola in which he was killed. Are there any books or articles on the subject? Also does anyone know the history of the DC 6 itself?
Google gives quite a few pages, but it appears the accident remains largely a mystery and photographs of the crashsite very rare. If you have not already seen it, visit this site: http://www.videoreporter.nl/zambiauk.htm
Tiger mate and Newforest - both links very helpful. Many thanks. Interesting that this was a crash with a public figure that abounds with conspiracy theories. Kemac
Wanderin Dave - Thanks - I have Volume 1 and thought it was an excellent read. I will order Vol. 4. If it is anything like the first one then it's exactly what I am after.
The particular aircraft (a DC-6B, I believe) was originally operated by Aramco, where it was used for oil field crew changes...originally multi stops Dhahran - Houston and return, then, when jet scheduled service to Rome from the USA was available, one stop to Rome, and return to Dhahran. Bought new from Douglas and went directly to Aramco, as I recall. The name painted on the nose was Camel One.
I have read two versions of the conspiracy theory regarding the crash.
They both involve the aircraft being intercepted by Fuga Magisters (sp?) being flown by mercenary pilots. The first version was that the aircraft was shot down whilst on approach. The second version was that the Magister was unable to locate the DC-6 and the crash was a miscalculation on the part of the pilots.
In the first version it was said that the one surviver of the crash was subsequently shot by persons on the ground and that there was a considerable quantity of ammunition on the aircraft.
Personally I think the pilots erred. Conspiracy theory is usually a load of bunk and is dependent on an enormously complicated chain of events to work. Something not often found in real life.
My brother was in Northern Rhodesian Police at N'Dola Traffic (i.e. mobile unit) at the time. Always very cagey on the subject - but I think he knows quite a lot. He's now a recluse living in a mobile caravan in Cornwall, not on email. If you pm me I'll give you his postal address and you can try your luck.
KeMac - what else would you like to know about the accident? The DC-6B, SE-BDY, belonged to Transair Sweden. On the flight deck were Captain Hallonquist, FO Litton, Captain Ahreus, Engineer Wilhelmsson and Radio Operator Rosen.
Transair's Director of Flight Operations, Captain Pearson, was also on the flight as was the company's Chief Engineer and Chief Flight Engineer. Amongst others, there were also two ICAO representatives and a Captain McAfee of the International Federation of Airline Pilots.
Ndola base OC was Rhodesian Air force Squadron Leader Mussell. The wreckage was spotted by Flying Officer Craxford from a searching Provost.
A DC-4, OO-RIC, was sent in ahead to give the impression it was actually carrying the Secretary General. This was for security reasons although there was no evidence of any sabotage causing the accident.
Hello, I read your message from a few months ago saying that your brother was with the Ndola traffic police in 1961. I have done quite a lot of research on the crash, including interviews of old (still alive) eye witnesses who have never been heard before. I have drafted an article to be published in Aug or Sept this year, and a book next year. It would be interesting to get in touch with your brother to hear if he has any interesting information. Besides, I'm in contact with another ex-police officer in Ndola at the time, Adrian Begg who now lives in Australia.
