1.
LV LE BOURGET AIRPORT
0.01

2.
CU SIGN: SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS FLIGHT
0.04

3.
GROUND TO AIR SHOT AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT
0.14

4.
MV CAMERAMAN
0.22

5.
LV AIRCRAFT LANDING
0.22

6.
CU CAMERAMAN
0.24

7.
MV AIRCRAFT BEING WHEELED ACROSS TARMAC
0.30

8.
MV CROWD
0.38

9.
MV AIRCRAFT PAN TO PILOT IN CABIN
0.40

10.
MV CROWD BY AIRCRAFT
0.43

11.
MCV PILOT OUT OF COCKPIT, WAVES TO CROWD
0.49

12.
CU SIGN ON AIRCRAFT: SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS
0.51

13.
MLV PEOPLE HELPED FROM COLLAPSED STAND (3 SHOTS)
1.02



Initials GEM/V/BHH/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CHARLES LINDBERGH'S FIRST SOLO TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT 40 YEARS AGO WAS COMMEMORATED TODAY (SUNDAY) WHEN A REPLICA OF HIS AIRCRAFT, THE 'SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS', LANDED IN PARIS.

THE SMALL SILVER AIRCRAFT TAXIED DOWN THE RUNWAY AT LE BOURGET AFTER FLYING 50 MILES (80 KILOMETRES) FROM A FORMER UNITED STATES AIR BASE AT EVREUX.

AT THE AIRPORT, THERE WAS AN OFFICIAL RECEPTION WAITING FOR THE PILOT, ONE-LEGGED FILM STUNT MAN FRANK TALMAN. BUT THEY WEREN'T ON THEIR STAND ANY LONGER BY THE TIME HE WAS READY TO BE PRESENTED... IT HAD COLLAPSED.

THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR, MR. CHARLES BOHLEN, THE FRENCH MINISTER OF STATE, M. FOLAND NUNGESSER, AND MORE THAN 30 OFFICIALS WERE ON THE STAND WHEN IT SUBSIDED WITH COMIC OPERA SLOWNESS. NO ONE WAS HURT.

THEY WERE SEDATELY WATCHING THE ARRIVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHEN THEY GRADUALLY SANK BELOW THE HEADS OF THE CROWD. "IT WAS GRACEFUL, REALLY", SAID ONE WITNESS. ANOTHER DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT BY SAYING IT WAS ALL RATHER DIGNIFIED...."AMBASSADOR BOHLEN WAS LIKE THE CAPTAIN OF A SINKING SHIP. VERY CALM, VERY COMPOSED."