The crew of an Israeli plane saved an American military plane from the possibility of a crash over Athens last Sunday, the captain of the Israeli aircraft reported here today.
As the Israeli plane, a twin engine Curtis Commando owned by the El Al-Israel National Airlines, approached the Athens field, it intercepted a radio conversation between an American D-47 military transport and the control tower. The American plane reported its radio compass out of commission and the pilot said he was lost in the clouds and could not find his way to the landing strip. The control tower suggested the American plane return to Istanbul, but the pilot said he did not have enough fuel for the trip.
At this point, the Israeli radioman broke into the conversation and suggested that the Israeli plane could lead the American ship into a landing. The control tower and the U.S. pilot agreed and the Israeli plane headed into the cloud bank to find the Americans. After the two planes sighted each other, the Americans followed the Israeli ship for 45 minutes and landed safely.
When the two crews got out of the planes, the Americans ran over to hug the Israelis, pump their hands and express their thanks. The Greek control tower officials ran out to join the celebrating airmen and also thanked the Jewish crew.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
