European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 11, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I survived the Heights says sex Secretary who was in Empire state building office hit by a plane in 1945 son scaled world Trade Center. By Gay Pauley United press International he George Willig family of Bellerose n.y., can Tell some tall but True tales of their sky scraper adventures. Mrs. Willig the former Therese Fortier was a 19-year old Secretary who survived the crash 32 years ago of an army b25 into the Empire state build ing then the world s tallest. Last May her oldest son George 28, became the human Fly who scaled the out Side Wall of the world Trade Center s 110 stories. George Willig a modest Bung Man and an outdoors Man became an in Stant Folk hero As thousands watched his Progress up the sheer Glass and Concrete surface. Mrs Willig sees no particular coincidence in the two events. I survived the Heights she said. George accomplished  mrs. Willig a vivacious blonde an Mother of five now can talk matter of factly about the horrifying experience of the bomber Accident july 28,1945. That was the Day that the bomber flying in heavy fog and poor visibility crashed into the North Side of the Empire state building at the79th floor level. The crash killed 13 persons including the Pilot col. Bill Smith a Veteran of More than 50 world War ii combat missions his two passengers and 10 of mrs. Willig s associates at the Catholic War Relief Agen cies. One was her Boss. Twenty six persons were injured Many seriously and the toll might have been greater. But it was a saturday morning with a reduced work Force. A replay of that incredible event is in the sky is falling by Arthur Weingarten Grosset & Dunlap who interviewed everyone whom he could locate involved one Way or another in the Accident. Weingar ten was 10 at the time and went to the crash scene with his fire marshal father and mayor Fiorello Laguardia. Mrs. Willig recalled in an interview that i had followed my usual morning routine. I got up at six had a cup of Coffee went to mass and was at work by  our offices were on the West Side of the building running North and South. My desk was at the South end. I was just getting ready to walk to the North end and Check with my Boss when it happened. It was about 9 55  other accounts put the crash at 9 45 . We heard this rumbling and then there was a huge fireball. We thought new York was being bombed. It was after the sur Render in Europe and prior to the surren Der in the Pacific. I think we All thought in terms of rockets and  in seconds spewing gasoline was afire and mrs. Willig said her immedi ate group was surrounded by flames their Only Protection against the and Vance a frosted Glass door. I was sure we were All going to die. We prayed in Between hysteria. There was no place to go. We were surrounded by fire. 111 threw my wrist watch earrings and a Friendship ring from George out the window. Maybe i thought someone will find them. It seemed a shame to let them Burn up. No Way was i coming  the ring was a present from her future husband before he left for overseas duty with the army. All my clothing was ruined of course. But i still have my Little prayer Book from that Day. It is dirty from the smoke and  after being trapped in the smoke and flames for about an hour mrs. Willig and six other employees of the Catholic War Relief services were rescued by firemen who led them Down an Interior stairwell to the 68th floor where they caught an Eleva Tor to the ground. I was the least injured she said. We All went to St. Vincent s Hospital and i checked put and went on Home. I was Back at work monday morning. Catholic charities in the building Lent us some office  mrs Willig 52, for the last 13 years has been with St. John s University As Secre tary to John Alexion Dean of College administration. Going to classes As time allows she will be Able also to graduate from the College in january with a degree in business administration. Occasionally she said As the children were growing up she would get out clip pings of the bomber crash but gradually their interest waned. The children Are Therese Willig Carberry 29, a High school math teacher George who was a designer with Ideal toy corp., but is on leave after his spectacular climb to get it altogether like writing a Book Paul 24, in the advertising business Stephen 22, who is at the University of Wyoming and Frank 17, in school and working also in a fish store. Time is a marvelous healer said mrs. Willig. The Shock of the crash hit her about three months later. Every time i d hear a plane i d Jar  her doctor recommended she go for a while to a religious Retreat which she did and when i came Back to new York every thing was  flying does t bother her. There is no latent fear of height. Or. And mrs. Willig weren t around to watch their son scale the world Trade Center although he told them a couple of Days beforehand of his plans. But All the children always have been Active in the outdoors and they trusted George s plan Ning she said. George s father is a stereo typist work ing for new York City dailies usually the lobster shift or late night. He was Home sleeping when George started up the world Trade Center. She was in the office i guess i needed the distraction of work. And then the phone started ringing i asked George he s not called George or Why he tackled the world Trade Center. He a climber of mountains and rocks for years answered if you Don t climb you Don t understand. I like problem solving. Feel More alive. I Felt Good about myself something i could do Well. I guess the Surprise is that i m not a stunt  tuesday october 11, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 13