The incident occurred a half hour before another plane bearing the party of fourteen touring American publishers and editors landed at the field, which is in the Russian occupation zone.

Am immediate report on the incident was asked from the pilot of the C-47, Capt. James G. Baxter of Dallas, Texas who was on a test flight with no passengers. Captain Baxter had reported the incident to the airport control tower before bring the plane down. (A spokesman for headquarters of United States Forces, in the European Theater said any American representations to Moscow over the incident must come from the Untitled States command in Austria under General Mark W. Clark.)

Four members of Captain Baxter's crew supported his report that the Russian fired between two and four 37-mm cannon shots; and that the Soviet fighters were so close at the time that the concussion could be felt inside the American airplane. Russian Planes Lend-Lease Craft Airmen at the field identified the Russian fighters as outmoded P-39's furnished Russia during the war under American lend-lease. The fighters followed the transport, and left after the wheels of the big plane touched down on the ground.

The Russians have imposed strict rules for operation of American aircraft over their zone, requiring them to remain within certain lanes flying to and from the city. American planes are not permitted to fly over Vienna, and flights from Vienna to Berlin must be made by the way of Frankfort on the Main, far off the most economic route.

Indignant over the incident, Captain Baxter described how he saw two white puffs from the cannon in the nose of one of the fighters. "That's all in a cross country flight, when you can just sit there and fly," he said, "but I don't like it when your are in transition between flying and landing."

The plane bearing the touring newspaper executives was not molested. The crowed that witnessed the shooting incident greeted them when they landed at Tulln Field after a flight from Frankfort on their tour of occupied European areas, in which they are studying the operation of the Military Government.

The newspaper executives were welcomed by representatives of General Clark and planned to confer with General Clark later. The group expected to discuss occupation problems with members of the Austrian Government tomorrow and then go to Salzburg to investigate displaced persons camps in the American zone. Upon leaving Austria they will fly to Trieste and Rome and later to Paris.