Crashes and Accidents: Pre-War: 1930s
I am in the process of documenting every airplane crash and accident that occurred
at Mitchel Field/Mitchel AFB.
Researching and cross-referencing crash records and documents is a time consuming and tedious process.
I hope to include details and photos.
Please be patient and check back often for updates.
Thank you. Paul Martin, webmaster.
300102 O-11 27-10 Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 4 Harbula, M. G. USANY Old Country Golf Course, Flushing, NY
300123 C-9 29-223 61 Ser Sq Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLoGNU 4 Warren, Robert W. USAOH Dayton, OH
300128 PT-1 25-245 302 OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 5 Woodelton, Royal B. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300207 O-11 27-103 99 OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MAC 3 Mower, Clarence T. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300220 O-1E 29-292 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TAC 3 Gaines, Edmund P. USANY Buffalo, NY
300223 O-1B 27-284 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNO 4 Olive, James F., Jr USANJ Hadley Field, NJ
300223 O-1E 29-301 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TOANO 3 Puch, Charles F. USANJ Bound Brook, NJ
300223 O-1E 29-301 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TOANO 3 Puch, Charles F. USANJ Bound Brook, NJ
300311 O-1E 29-289 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY BOW 5 Hopkins, Frederick M.,Jr USAMD Camp Creek, 4 mi SW Chase, MD
3 March, 1930
Ford C-9, 29-221, c/n 81, assigned to the AC Detachment, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., piloted by Newton Longfellow, suffers damage in taxi accident in which it went up on its nose at Mitchel Field, New York.
Ford C-9, 29-221, c/n 81, assigned to the AC Detachment, Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., piloted by Newton Longfellow, suffers damage in taxi accident in which it went up on its nose at Mitchel Field, New York.
300401 PT-3 29-98 Boston Airport, East Boston, MA TAC 3 Stromme, J. L. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300413 O-2H 28-150 AC Det Bolling Field, Washington, DC LACNO 3 Gullet, John S USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300503 PT-1 26-319 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TACW 3 Straker, G. V. USANY Airdrome, Mitchel Field, NY
300528 O-1E 29-312 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLW 4 Stead, Thomas W. USANY Pelham Bay Golf Course, LI, NY
300606 O-1E 29-291 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY SSPCR 5 McCaffery, Hugh F. USANJ Fort Hancock, NJ
300613 P-1A 26-28 Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLW 5 Bruner, Donald L USANY Cedar Grove Beach, New Dorp,Staten Is, NY
300629 PT-1 26-321 5OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY KCRGC 5
Flood, Albert E. USA NY Salsbury Golf Course near Mitchel Field, NY
Flood, Albert E. USA NY Salsbury Golf Course near Mitchel Field, NY
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300709 PT-1 26-254 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LAC 3 Mulligan, Gerald F USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
300801 XBT-4 29-295 Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACGL 3 Spooner, Malcom G. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300812 PT-1 26-254 303ProSq Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TOA 3 Batchelder, W. W. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300812 PT-1 26-254 303ProSq Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TOA 3 Batchelder, W. W. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300819 O-1E 29-297 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TAC 3 Cronin, Neal J. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300824 O-1B 27-278 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACMF 4 Munroe, Charles L. USAMD Hebron. MD
300901 O-1E 29-311 Mitchel Field, LI, NY KCRGCW 5 Harbold, Wiliam A. USANJ Atlantic Ocean 300 yds off Highlands, NJ
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LT William Albert Harbold BIRTH 15 Jun 1904 DEATH 1 Sep 1930 (aged 26) BURIAL Lexington Cemetery Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, USA Grave photo by Hank Cox |
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300901 O-1E 29-285 99SG Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLW 2 Kissner, August W USANY Flood lighted Golf Driving Rng, Albany, NY
300903 PT-1 26-251 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 5 Phillips, Frederick G USANJ 100 ft offshore at Long Branch, NJ
300908 OA-2 29-278 61SerSq Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 3 Downey, Hugh C USANY Mitchel Field, NY
300912 O-1E 29-303 5OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACMF 3 Conover, Richard V USANY Mitchel Field, NY
301025 A-3 28-96 ACTS Langley Field, Hampton, VA TACMF 3 Kenney, George C. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
301028 OA-2 29-278 5OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACW 3 Conover, Richard V USANY Mitchel Field, NY
301117 O-1E 29-306 Mitchel Field, LI, NY TACNO 4 Koon, Ralph E. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
301205 O-1E 29-319 Hq Sq 9OG Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACO 5 Johnston, Paul H. USANY 7 mi NE of Grahamville, NY,
301221 O-1E 29-318 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEFNU 5 Pike, Glenn M. USANY Black Stump Road, Flushing, NY
1931
310215 O-1B 27-270 302OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNU 3 Harper, Maitland C. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
310411 O-1E 29-294 5OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACMF 3 Conover, Richard V USANY Mitchel Field, NY
310524 OA-2 29-281 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 4 Cullman, George R. USAVA Silver Beach, VA
310720 O-1B 27-2865OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY BOMAC 5 Kelly, Francis X USACT Cadarcrest Sanitarium, CT
310720 O-1E 29-306 Mitchel Field, LI, NY KMAC 5 Lowery, Benjamin F. USACT Cedarcrest Sanatarium, CT
310720 O-1E 29-306 Mitchel Field, LI, NY KMAC 5 Lowery, Benjamin F. USACT Cedarcrest Sanatarium, CT
Lieut Benjamin F. “Frank” Lowery
BIRTH 2 Apr 1905
DEATH 20 Jul 1931 (aged 26)
BURIAL Smyrna Cemetery
Ocoee, Polk County, Tennessee, USA
BIRTH 2 Apr 1905
DEATH 20 Jul 1931 (aged 26)
BURIAL Smyrna Cemetery
Ocoee, Polk County, Tennessee, USA
310723 O-1E 29-316 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACGL 3 White, G. L. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
310820 O-1G 31-485 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 4 Cullen, Paul T USANY Mitchel Field, NY
310821 O-1E 29-286 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNU 5 Tapley, Elmer B. USACT Trumbull Field, Groton, CT
310911 O-1G 31-500 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY MACO 3 Baylor, Joseph W USANY Mitchel Field, NY
311027 Y1C-23 32-232 AC Det Bolling Field, Washington, DC LACMF 2 Quesada, Elwood R. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
311029 O-25C 32-203 ferry unknown FLW 0 Wilson, Roscoe C. USA NY 5 mi from Mitchel Field, LI, NY
311127 O-1G 31-481 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEFNO 3 Steed, Thomas W. USANY West Islip, LI, NY
1932
320214 O-1G 31-474 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY GAC 3 Allen, C. B. USANY Valley Stream Airport, NY
320214 Great Lakes Trainer NC845K Valley Stream Airport, NY GAC 3 (parked aircraft) USANY Valley Stream Airport, NY
320214 Great Lakes Trainer NC845K Valley Stream Airport, NY GAC 3 (parked aircraft) USANY Valley Stream Airport, NY
320419 O-1G 31-490 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY MACT 5 Gitzinger, Louis H USAMD Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, MD
320506 O-1G 31-478 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY KSSPCR 5 Allen, James D USANY Knabbe Truck Farm, Wantagh, LI, NY
320512 DH-4B AC-63538 Mitchel Field, LI, NY CR 5 Roullet, John J. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
320605 O-1G 31-481 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 4 Bogert, Howard Z USANJ 4 mi E of Pennsville, NJ
320627 O-13C 29-319 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY KCRW 5 Creedon, T. J. USANY R. H. Fleishman Estate, Port Washington,LI,NY
320725 YC-31A 31-606 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TOASF 3 Bogert, Howard Z USANY Mitchel Field, NY
320727 YF-1 30-392 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLW 2 Olive, James F., Jr USAPA 5 mi E of Indiana, PA
320728 O-25C 32-205 5OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACNO 4 Cork, R. C. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
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320903 O-25C 32-198 5OS Mitchel Field, NY Landing ACcident Ground Collision LACGC Anderson, Samuel E USA NY Mitchel Field, NY 320903 O-25C 32-208 5OS Mitchel Field, NY Taxiing ACcident TAC Keenan, Gregory F. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY Two Douglas 0-25cs from the 5th Observation Squadron collide at Mitchel field. One was taxiing out for takeoff when it was struck by the other after landing.
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320913 O-25C 32-198 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 4 Anderson, S. E. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
320924 O-1G 31-484 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LAC 4 Seaman, Lewis F. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
321003 O-25C 32-204 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TOAEF 5 Keenan, Gregory F. USA DC Bolling Field, Washington, DC
321101 O-1G 31-486 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLoG 4 Harper, Maitland C. USAOH Ohio State College Athletic field,Columbus,OH
1933
330217 O-39 32-217 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACW 4 Koon, Ralph E. USATN Near, Maynardsville, TN
330220 O-1G 31-473 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACO 3 Wooley, Paul S. USA Chapman Field, Miami, FL
330227 A-3 27-308 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY WAC 4 Jones, Felix P. USANJ Newark Airport, Newark, NJ
330314 O-39 32-212 HqSq 9OGMitchel Field, LI, NY FLWNO 4 Pursley, Charles A. USANJ Dayton, NJ
330315 JN-4H AS-2821 Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACSSP 5 Blake, Roland G USANY Mitchel Field, NY
330320 YO-31A 31-606 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACMF 2 Bawsel, Lindsay M USAAL Maxwell Field, AL
330324 O-25C 32-199 Mitchel Field, LI, NY KSSPCR 5 Stouff, Charles W. USAFL Chapman Field, FL
330405 Y1O-43 32-293 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACMF 2 Zelaze, Steve L. USAPA Burgess Field, Uniontown, PA
330427 O-39 32-218 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY BOF 5 Banks, Amberse M USANJ Harrop property, near Brunswick, NJ
330504 Y1O-35 32-318 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 3 Bawsel, Lindsay M USAPA 3 mi S of Allegheny CAP, Pittsburg, PA
330504 O-39 32-214 9CA Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACGL 2 Howard, John H. USAPA Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, PA
330609 O-1G 31-500 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 4 Simonin, Arthur E. USANY 3 mi S of Mitchel Field, NY
330626 YO-31A 31-604 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACMF 3 Layman, Gilbert E. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
330701 YO-31A 31-605 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TACMF 3 Stewart, Malcom F. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
330713 Y1O-35 32-317 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 4 Moore, Howard USANY Meadowbrook Country Club,Westbury,LI,NY
330806 O-1G 31-487 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TOA 3 Foster, Jushua H., Jr USAMA Norwood Airport, Norwood, MA
330822 O-31C 31-608 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACMF 3 Dolye, John P. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
330827 O-25C 32-208 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY KBOoGW 5 Harmon, Ernest E. USA CT 3.5 mi NW of Stamford, CT
330908 O-25C 32-200 5OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY BOW 5 Colgan. John G USANJ Freehold, NJ
330908 O-25C 32-198 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY BOoGW 5 Lacey, Julius K. USANJ Skillman, NJ
330908 O-25C 32-203 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY BOoGW 5 Logan, Arthur L. USANY Island Park, LI, NY
330908 O-25C 32-203 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY BOoGW 5 Logan, Arthur L. USANY Island Park, LI, NY
331001 O-43 32-294 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLW 5 Pocock, William S. USAPA New Lexington, PA
331017 O-1G 31-499 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LAC 3 Stewart, Malcom F. USATX Biggs Field, El Paso, TX
331122 JN-4H AS-22549 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 5 Kennedy, John C. USANY Ditch in river whereabouts unknown
331216 P-16 31-505 94PS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 4 Evans, Frank H. USANJ Teterboro Airport, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
1934
340120 O-1G 31-488 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LAC 4 Winstead, Joshawa T., Jr USA NC Macclesfield, NC
340204 O-31A 31-604 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TACMF 3 Sinclair, Frank D. USA MI Selfridge Field, MI
340205 Y1O-40B 32-415 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 4 Bradley, Follett USA NJ Lakehurst NAS, NJ
340206 F-1A 31-465 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 2 Logan, Arthur L. CAN 4 mi W of Chatham, Ontario, CAN
340206 Y1O-40B 32-416 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FL lost 4 Pursley, Charles A. USA SC Denmark, SC
340420 O-1G 31-473 Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACNU 3 Baker, David H USA NY Framingham Airport, LI, NY
340607 O-1G 31-479 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 3 Lehman, Arthur J. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
340618 O-43 32-291 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 3 Royce, Ralph US AVA Fort Ethan Allen, VA
340719 Y1O-40A 32-343 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 3 Allen, Robert H USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
340719 O-31A 31-607 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MF 3 Melden, T. M., Jr USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
340720 BT-2B 31-14 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACMF 3 Geofferey, Harry H. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
341001 unknown unknown Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 3 Frank, Walter H. USA PA Irwin, PA
341030 O-1G 31-499 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACO 4 Henry, Draper F. USA CT New Haven, CT
341206 O-1G 31-479 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 0 (parked aircraft) USA FL Chapman Field, FL
341229 O-1G 31-494 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNO 3 Olsen, Albert F. USA IL Muni Airport, Chicago, IL
340204 O-31A 31-604 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TACMF 3 Sinclair, Frank D. USA MI Selfridge Field, MI
340205 Y1O-40B 32-415 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 4 Bradley, Follett USA NJ Lakehurst NAS, NJ
340206 F-1A 31-465 5OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 2 Logan, Arthur L. CAN 4 mi W of Chatham, Ontario, CAN
340206 Y1O-40B 32-416 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FL lost 4 Pursley, Charles A. USA SC Denmark, SC
340420 O-1G 31-473 Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACNU 3 Baker, David H USA NY Framingham Airport, LI, NY
340607 O-1G 31-479 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 3 Lehman, Arthur J. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
340618 O-43 32-291 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 3 Royce, Ralph US AVA Fort Ethan Allen, VA
340719 Y1O-40A 32-343 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 3 Allen, Robert H USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
340719 O-31A 31-607 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MF 3 Melden, T. M., Jr USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
340720 BT-2B 31-14 1OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACMF 3 Geofferey, Harry H. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
341001 unknown unknown Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 3 Frank, Walter H. USA PA Irwin, PA
341030 O-1G 31-499 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACO 4 Henry, Draper F. USA CT New Haven, CT
341206 O-1G 31-479 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 0 (parked aircraft) USA FL Chapman Field, FL
341229 O-1G 31-494 99OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNO 3 Olsen, Albert F. USA IL Muni Airport, Chicago, IL
23 February, 1934
Three Air Corps crew are forced down in an aircraft in the Atlantic off of Rockaway Point, New York, whilst en route from Mitchel Field, New York, to Langley Field, Virginia, to pick up mail planes. Planes and vessels searched the sea off New York for the body of Lieutenant George F. McDermott, described by the press as the fifth flier to die in connection with the army's task of carrying the air mail. Forced down amidst "crashing waves", McDermott's two companions, Lieutenants J. H. Rothrock and W. S. Pocock, were picked up by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Bernadou. They were reported to be "weak from exposure." The vessel could not find McDermott, nor salvage the disintegrating plane. "McDermott, whose family lives in Greenfield, Pa., slipped to his death in the icy Atlantic hours after the plane faltered and alighted. His companions, clad in heavy flying suits and weakened by exposure, could not help him." McDermott, "23, battled side by side witht [sic] his companions, Lieut. J. H. Rothrock and Lieut. W. S. Pocock, for five hours on the ice-covered wings of the plane before he died, the sixth to lose his life in connection with preparations for the army to fly the mail. Once, in the almost super-human struggle of the three to cut loose the craft's motors and keep afloat, he fell into the choppy sea. Doggedly, he swam back to where his companions could pull him aboard again. The could [sic] was intense and a stiff wind whipped the waves high. Again McDermott's grip failed and he slid away from his companions and into the water, apparently unconscious. Rothrock and Pocock couldn't reach him, and within a moment he had disappeared. Ten minutes later rescuers from the destroyed [sic] Bernadou - leading a fleet of ships and planes which had sought for hours to reach the pilots - reached the almost submered [sic] craft and took off Rothrock and Pocock. James H. Rothrock was listed as the pilot of this flight, in Douglas C-29 Dolphin, 33-293,[240] c/n 1184, one of only two of the C-29 amphibious flying boats acquired by the Air Corps. An Associated Press wire photo is published 2 March 1934 showing Pocock and Rothrock recovering in hospital.
Three Air Corps crew are forced down in an aircraft in the Atlantic off of Rockaway Point, New York, whilst en route from Mitchel Field, New York, to Langley Field, Virginia, to pick up mail planes. Planes and vessels searched the sea off New York for the body of Lieutenant George F. McDermott, described by the press as the fifth flier to die in connection with the army's task of carrying the air mail. Forced down amidst "crashing waves", McDermott's two companions, Lieutenants J. H. Rothrock and W. S. Pocock, were picked up by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Bernadou. They were reported to be "weak from exposure." The vessel could not find McDermott, nor salvage the disintegrating plane. "McDermott, whose family lives in Greenfield, Pa., slipped to his death in the icy Atlantic hours after the plane faltered and alighted. His companions, clad in heavy flying suits and weakened by exposure, could not help him." McDermott, "23, battled side by side witht [sic] his companions, Lieut. J. H. Rothrock and Lieut. W. S. Pocock, for five hours on the ice-covered wings of the plane before he died, the sixth to lose his life in connection with preparations for the army to fly the mail. Once, in the almost super-human struggle of the three to cut loose the craft's motors and keep afloat, he fell into the choppy sea. Doggedly, he swam back to where his companions could pull him aboard again. The could [sic] was intense and a stiff wind whipped the waves high. Again McDermott's grip failed and he slid away from his companions and into the water, apparently unconscious. Rothrock and Pocock couldn't reach him, and within a moment he had disappeared. Ten minutes later rescuers from the destroyed [sic] Bernadou - leading a fleet of ships and planes which had sought for hours to reach the pilots - reached the almost submered [sic] craft and took off Rothrock and Pocock. James H. Rothrock was listed as the pilot of this flight, in Douglas C-29 Dolphin, 33-293,[240] c/n 1184, one of only two of the C-29 amphibious flying boats acquired by the Air Corps. An Associated Press wire photo is published 2 March 1934 showing Pocock and Rothrock recovering in hospital.
1935
Curtiss O-39 Falcon: 214 (9 CA) wrecked when nosed over on landing at Mitchel Field, NY Feb 6, 1935
350105 O-1C 31-481 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 3 Farman, Ivan L. USANJ Aircraft Radio Corp. Field, Booton, NJ
350129 O-1G 31-473 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLoGNO 3 Fischer, John F. USASC Near Charleston, SC
350206 O-39 32-214 61SerSq Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACNO 3 Blair, S. A. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350225 Y1O-40B 32-416 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 4 Smith, Don W. USANY Floyd Bennett Airport, NYC, NY
25 February, 1935:
A Curtiss Y1O-40B Raven, 32-416, of the 1st Observation Squadron, 9th Observation Group, Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, piloted by Don W. Smith, suffers major damage when it force lands due to engine failure at Floyd Bennett Field, New York City, New York. Repaired.
350411 O-31A 31-606 5BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 4 Gilkes, Clarence W USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350430 PT-3A 29-44 StaComp Mitchell Field, LI, NY TACNO 4 Hart, Joseph H. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350621 O-1E 29-285 StaComp Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACO 4 Hayward, John M. USANY Commack, NY
350629 C-8 30-394 Chanute Field, Rantoul, IL TOAEF 4 Goddard, George W USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350801 O-1E 29-297 861OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACW 4 Adams, James G USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350105 O-1C 31-481 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 3 Farman, Ivan L. USANJ Aircraft Radio Corp. Field, Booton, NJ
350129 O-1G 31-473 99OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLoGNO 3 Fischer, John F. USASC Near Charleston, SC
350206 O-39 32-214 61SerSq Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LACNO 3 Blair, S. A. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350225 Y1O-40B 32-416 1OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLEF 4 Smith, Don W. USANY Floyd Bennett Airport, NYC, NY
25 February, 1935:
A Curtiss Y1O-40B Raven, 32-416, of the 1st Observation Squadron, 9th Observation Group, Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, piloted by Don W. Smith, suffers major damage when it force lands due to engine failure at Floyd Bennett Field, New York City, New York. Repaired.
350411 O-31A 31-606 5BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY LAC 4 Gilkes, Clarence W USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350430 PT-3A 29-44 StaComp Mitchell Field, LI, NY TACNO 4 Hart, Joseph H. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350621 O-1E 29-285 StaComp Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACO 4 Hayward, John M. USANY Commack, NY
350629 C-8 30-394 Chanute Field, Rantoul, IL TOAEF 4 Goddard, George W USANY Mitchel Field, NY
350801 O-1E 29-297 861OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACW 4 Adams, James G USANY Mitchel Field, NY
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350804 O-1E 29-317 Org Res
Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNO Spooner, Malcom G. USANY Mitchel Field, NY |
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350820 O-1G 31-498 97OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY KFLEF 5 Scherer, Robert M. USANY 5 mi N of Watertown, NY
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Robert Marx Scherer BIRTH 1909 DEATH Aug 1935 (aged 25–26) BURIAL Haven Hill Cemetery Olney, Richland County, Illinois, USA Grave photo courtesy of B. Pipher |
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350904 B-10B 34-113 5BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 5 Creer, William E USAPA 2 mi E of Middletown, PA on PA Route #341
351023 O-39 32-215 97OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACSSP 5 Young, Raymond A. USANY Plattsburg Barracks, Plattsburg, NY
351023 O-39 32-215 97OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACSSP 5 Young, Raymond A. USANY Plattsburg Barracks, Plattsburg, NY
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351102 Y1O-40B 32-415 97OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TOAEF 5 Miller, William A. USA OH Cornfield, 1 mi E of Alexandersville, OH |
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351109 P-6E 32-251 Hq Sq 8pG Langley Field, Hampton, VA KSSPCR 5 Petersen, Alton T. USA CT Stratford, CT
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Alton Theodore Petersen
BIRTH 30 Dec 1909 Nebraska, USA DEATH 9 Nov 1935 (aged 25) Nebraska, USA BURIAL United Lutheran Cemetery Hampton, Hamilton County, Nebraska, USA Grave photo courtesy John Quiring |
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351204 O-43 32-291 97OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY KLACSSP
1 Lt. Harry H. Geofferey, USA DC Bolling Field, Washington, DC
Maj. George E Rice
1 Lt. Harry H. Geofferey, USA DC Bolling Field, Washington, DC
Maj. George E Rice
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1LT Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey BIRTH 21 Dec 1906 Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA DEATH 4 Dec 1935 (aged 28) Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA BURIAL United States Military Academy Post Cemetery West Point, Orange County, New York, USA PLOT Section VI, Row B, Site 93. |
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USMA Class of 1930. Cullum No. 8854. On December 29, 1930 as Harry H. Geoffrey, he married Mary Fredericka Mertens in the District of Columbia. On the 1920 census he is listed as H. Harry Jeffrey with his uncle, David Charboneau and aunt, Elva Bartlett Charboneau, the sister of his mother, Armintha Bartlett He was admitted to West Point as Harry Howard Jeffrey, but his name was changed to Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey.
Sixty-Eighth Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York June 11, 1937, The Moore Printing Company Inc., Newburgh, New York.
Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey
No. 8854. Class of 1930.
Died December 4, 1935, at Bolling Field, District of Columbia, aged 28 years.
Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey, son of Harry Howard and Armintha Bartlett Geoffrey, was born December 19, 1906, at St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended the local schools and graduated from Central High School, St. Paul, in 1925. After graduation he joined the Third Infantry at Fort Snelling in order to take a competitive examination for the Military Academy, an examination which he passed with high honors. He graduated from West Point in 1930 and was assigned to duty with the 18th Field Artillery, at Fort Snelling.
While a cadet he was literary editor of The Pointer, was manager of the Army fencing team and was Secretary and Treasurer of the Intercollegiate Fencing Association.
In December 1930, he was married to Miss Fredericka Mertens, of Washington, D.C.
In August 1932, he applied for Air Corps training and was sent to Randolph Field, Texas. After passing his Air Corps examination he was assigned to that branch of the service, promoted to First Lieutenant and sent to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York.
On December 4, 1935, he was with another officer, en route to Washington, D.C., from Mitchel Field, when their plane was caught by a gust of wind and swept into a hillside just as they were about to land. In this plane crash at Bolling Field he met his death.
He was laid to rest in the Military Academy cemetery at West Point.
He will ever be remembered at Fort Snelling as one of the most popular officers in recent years. He was known to many residents of the Twin Cities as a horseman, polo player and athlete.
He left to mourn his loss, his widow and four-year-old son, Frederick and his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Charboneau.
Just as of old - with fearless foot
And placid face and resolute,
He takes the faint, mysterious trail
That leads beyond our earthly hail.
So, never parting word or cry: -
We feel, with him, that by and by
Our onward trails will meet and then
Merge and be ever one again.
E.C.
Sixty-Eighth Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York June 11, 1937, The Moore Printing Company Inc., Newburgh, New York.
Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey
No. 8854. Class of 1930.
Died December 4, 1935, at Bolling Field, District of Columbia, aged 28 years.
Harry Hollingsworth Geoffrey, son of Harry Howard and Armintha Bartlett Geoffrey, was born December 19, 1906, at St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended the local schools and graduated from Central High School, St. Paul, in 1925. After graduation he joined the Third Infantry at Fort Snelling in order to take a competitive examination for the Military Academy, an examination which he passed with high honors. He graduated from West Point in 1930 and was assigned to duty with the 18th Field Artillery, at Fort Snelling.
While a cadet he was literary editor of The Pointer, was manager of the Army fencing team and was Secretary and Treasurer of the Intercollegiate Fencing Association.
In December 1930, he was married to Miss Fredericka Mertens, of Washington, D.C.
In August 1932, he applied for Air Corps training and was sent to Randolph Field, Texas. After passing his Air Corps examination he was assigned to that branch of the service, promoted to First Lieutenant and sent to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York.
On December 4, 1935, he was with another officer, en route to Washington, D.C., from Mitchel Field, when their plane was caught by a gust of wind and swept into a hillside just as they were about to land. In this plane crash at Bolling Field he met his death.
He was laid to rest in the Military Academy cemetery at West Point.
He will ever be remembered at Fort Snelling as one of the most popular officers in recent years. He was known to many residents of the Twin Cities as a horseman, polo player and athlete.
He left to mourn his loss, his widow and four-year-old son, Frederick and his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Charboneau.
Just as of old - with fearless foot
And placid face and resolute,
He takes the faint, mysterious trail
That leads beyond our earthly hail.
So, never parting word or cry: -
We feel, with him, that by and by
Our onward trails will meet and then
Merge and be ever one again.
E.C.
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George E Rice
BIRTH 18 Jan 1899 Thermopolis, Hot Springs County, Wyoming, USA DEATH 4 Dec 1935 (aged 36) Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA BURIAL Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA A PLOT Section B Site 90 
Grave photos courtesy Dennis Alan Deel
|
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MAJ Air Corps U.S.A.
Major George E. Rice, who with Lt. Harry H. Geoffery was killed in the crash of an army plane near Boling field, Washington, last week, was a cousin of R. J. Price of Douglas. He was a native of Thermopolis and was reared by Mr. Price's mother, following the death of his parents. Burial was at San Antonio Monday.
© Douglas Budget, Douglas, WY, Dec. 12, 1935
(Information provided by Betty Alberts, FAG Member #47293729)
Major George E. Rice, who with Lt. Harry H. Geoffery was killed in the crash of an army plane near Boling field, Washington, last week, was a cousin of R. J. Price of Douglas. He was a native of Thermopolis and was reared by Mr. Price's mother, following the death of his parents. Burial was at San Antonio Monday.
© Douglas Budget, Douglas, WY, Dec. 12, 1935
(Information provided by Betty Alberts, FAG Member #47293729)
351209 O-1G 31-497 1BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TOA 4 Fisher, William P. USA NJ Warrengrove, NJ
351209 O-1G 31-500 1BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TOA 5 Randall, John L. USANJ Warren Grove, NJ
351209 O-1G 31-500 1BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TOA 5 Randall, John L. USANJ Warren Grove, NJ
6 June, 1936
Martin B-10B, 34–89, c/n 620,[48] of the 1st Bomb Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, based at Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, New York, piloted by Darlene E. Bailey, gets into an irrecoverable spin, crew bails out, plane comes down in a field at Syosset, L.I., New York. Written off.
89 (MSN 620) converted to B-10BM. Lost control and stalled (pilot bailed out) and spun into ground at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. w/o Jun 6, 1926 at Syosset, NY
Martin B-10B, 34–89, c/n 620,[48] of the 1st Bomb Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, based at Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, New York, piloted by Darlene E. Bailey, gets into an irrecoverable spin, crew bails out, plane comes down in a field at Syosset, L.I., New York. Written off.
89 (MSN 620) converted to B-10BM. Lost control and stalled (pilot bailed out) and spun into ground at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. w/o Jun 6, 1926 at Syosset, NY
1936
360109 B-6A 30-353 1BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 5 Craw, Demas T. USANY Mineola, LI, NY
360111 O-1G 31-482 5BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLW 4 Rodgers, John N. USAPA Brookline, PA
360201 PT-3 28-306 Air Ser Sec Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACNU 2 Falco, Maceo USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360205 O-1G 31-494 1BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LAC 3 Snell, Arthur Y USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360207 B-10B 34-34 20BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA LACMF 3 Cunningham, Thomas J. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360219 B-10B 34-43 20BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA LAC 3 Senter, William O. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360220 O-1G 31-474 1BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TAC 3 Carpenter, Earle J USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360301 PT-3A 29-44 Sta Comp Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 5 Miller William A. USACT New Medford, CT
360606 B-10B 34-89 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY BOSSPCR 5 Bailey, Dalene E USA NY Syosset, LI, NY
360618 B-10B 34-36 49BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA FLEF 4 Lawton, Malcom S. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360711 O-1G 31-474 97OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNO 5 Lewis, Burton F. USACT Mollison Field, Stratford, CT
360717 OA-4 32-397 Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 2 Haskins, Millard L USANY Old Fort Tyler,NY
360807 B-10B 35-236 99BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 2 Melden, T. M., Jr USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360830 O-1G 31-476 369OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY MACO 5 Allen, Robert H USAMA North Shirley, MA
360920 B-10B 35-243 99BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACB 2 Osher, Norman C. USANY Near, Bronx, NY
360922 B-10B 35-242 99BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY KSSPCR 5 Neely, Jack J. USARI Hillgrove Airport, RI
361009 B-10B 34-115 1BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACMF 3 Chapman, C. T. USAPA Middletown Air Depot, Middletown, PA
361112 B-10B 35-232 18RS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 3 Doyle, John P. USADE Laurel, DE
361222 B-10B 34-50 49BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA FLoG 5 Thompson, Glenn C. USANY 1 mi W of Mitchel Field, LI, NY
360111 O-1G 31-482 5BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY FLW 4 Rodgers, John N. USAPA Brookline, PA
360201 PT-3 28-306 Air Ser Sec Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACNU 2 Falco, Maceo USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360205 O-1G 31-494 1BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LAC 3 Snell, Arthur Y USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360207 B-10B 34-34 20BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA LACMF 3 Cunningham, Thomas J. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360219 B-10B 34-43 20BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA LAC 3 Senter, William O. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360220 O-1G 31-474 1BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TAC 3 Carpenter, Earle J USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360301 PT-3A 29-44 Sta Comp Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 5 Miller William A. USACT New Medford, CT
360606 B-10B 34-89 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY BOSSPCR 5 Bailey, Dalene E USA NY Syosset, LI, NY
360618 B-10B 34-36 49BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA FLEF 4 Lawton, Malcom S. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360711 O-1G 31-474 97OS Mitchel Field, LI, NY LACNO 5 Lewis, Burton F. USACT Mollison Field, Stratford, CT
360717 OA-4 32-397 Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 2 Haskins, Millard L USANY Old Fort Tyler,NY
360807 B-10B 35-236 99BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY TAC 2 Melden, T. M., Jr USANY Mitchel Field, NY
360830 O-1G 31-476 369OS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY MACO 5 Allen, Robert H USAMA North Shirley, MA
360920 B-10B 35-243 99BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY MACB 2 Osher, Norman C. USANY Near, Bronx, NY
360922 B-10B 35-242 99BS Mitchel Field, LI, NY KSSPCR 5 Neely, Jack J. USARI Hillgrove Airport, RI
361009 B-10B 34-115 1BS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY TACMF 3 Chapman, C. T. USAPA Middletown Air Depot, Middletown, PA
361112 B-10B 35-232 18RS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, LI, NY FLEF 3 Doyle, John P. USADE Laurel, DE
361222 B-10B 34-50 49BS Langley Field, Hampton, VA FLoG 5 Thompson, Glenn C. USANY 1 mi W of Mitchel Field, LI, NY
1937
370117 O-46A 35-199 2ABS Mitchel Field, NY FLW 3
Pennington, Victor P. USA MD Armiger, MD
370219 O-46A 35-178 97OS Mitchel Field, NY MACO 3
Rethorest, William USA PA Near, Point Pleasant, PA
370415 B-10B 34-82 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY MAC 2
Sexton, Robert C. USA MD 1 mi E of Ocean City, MD
370415 B-10B 34-112 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY MAC 2
Langben, Thomas F. USA MD 1mi E of Ocean City, MD
370507 C-33 36-81 2ABS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, NY FLEF 5
Cullen, Paul T USA AZ Clay Springs, AZ
370601 B-10B 34-114 99BS Mitchel Field, NY FLEF 3
Akre, R. O. S. USA PA Middletown Air Depot, Middletown, PA
370709 O-46A 35-199 Org Res Mitchel Field, NY TACMF 4
Chandler, Homer B. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
370729 B-10B 35-232 18RS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, NY LAC 3
Divine, Dwoght, II USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
370814 B-10B 34-112 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LACSF 4
Quesada, Elwood R. USA CA Hamilton Field, CA
371116 B-10B 34-91 99BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY TAC 3
Melville, Phillips USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
371116 C-8A 30-392 97OS Mitchel Field, NY TAC 3
(parked aircraft) USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
371223 BT-9C 37-411 Org Res Mitchel Field, NY TOAEF 4
Chandler, Homer B USA TX Biggs Field, TX
Pennington, Victor P. USA MD Armiger, MD
370219 O-46A 35-178 97OS Mitchel Field, NY MACO 3
Rethorest, William USA PA Near, Point Pleasant, PA
370415 B-10B 34-82 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY MAC 2
Sexton, Robert C. USA MD 1 mi E of Ocean City, MD
370415 B-10B 34-112 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY MAC 2
Langben, Thomas F. USA MD 1mi E of Ocean City, MD
370507 C-33 36-81 2ABS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, NY FLEF 5
Cullen, Paul T USA AZ Clay Springs, AZ
370601 B-10B 34-114 99BS Mitchel Field, NY FLEF 3
Akre, R. O. S. USA PA Middletown Air Depot, Middletown, PA
370709 O-46A 35-199 Org Res Mitchel Field, NY TACMF 4
Chandler, Homer B. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
370729 B-10B 35-232 18RS Mitchel Field, Hempstead, NY LAC 3
Divine, Dwoght, II USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
370814 B-10B 34-112 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LACSF 4
Quesada, Elwood R. USA CA Hamilton Field, CA
371116 B-10B 34-91 99BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY TAC 3
Melville, Phillips USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
371116 C-8A 30-392 97OS Mitchel Field, NY TAC 3
(parked aircraft) USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
371223 BT-9C 37-411 Org Res Mitchel Field, NY TOAEF 4
Chandler, Homer B USA TX Biggs Field, TX
1938
380424 BT-9C 38-229 Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3
Spooner, Malcom G. USA CT Canaan, CT
380505 O-46A 35-177 97OS Mitchel Field, NY TAC 2
Harvey, Sterling G. USA NY Muni Airport, Niagara Falls, NY
380517 B-10B 34-110 5BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LACMF 4
Valentine, Francis B. USA PA Middletown AD, Middletown, PA
380616 O-46A 35-174 97OS Mitchel Field, NY LAC 4
Lewis, Burton F. USA NJ Newark Airport, Newark, NJ
380725 B-10B 34-111 99BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 4
Upthegrove, Fay R. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
380809 BC-1 37-638 18RS Mitchel Field, NY TAC 3
Melville, Phillips USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
380923 O-46A 35-201 Org Res Mitchel Field, NY KSSPCR 5
Harper, Maitland C. USA NY South Bay, Hudson, NY
380924 B-10B 34-82 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3
Benn, William G USA NY Wheeler Sack Field, Pine Camp, Watertown, NY
380928 B-10B 5BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3
Simons, Richard W. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
381012 B-18 36-293 18RS Mitchel Field, NY CRGC 5
Nelson, Charles K. USA VA Water of Back Bay, E side Langley Fld, VA
381118 B-18A 37-468 99BS Mitchel Field, NY KMACO 5
Black, Robert K USA GA 7 mi NE of LaGrange, GA SEE article below
381122 B-18 37-30 HqSq 9BG Mitchel Field, NY ACC 2
Winn, Raymond L. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
381212 BC-1 38-379 5BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LACNO 4
Spilman, Lawrence A. USA CT Norwalk, CT
Spooner, Malcom G. USA CT Canaan, CT
380505 O-46A 35-177 97OS Mitchel Field, NY TAC 2
Harvey, Sterling G. USA NY Muni Airport, Niagara Falls, NY
380517 B-10B 34-110 5BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LACMF 4
Valentine, Francis B. USA PA Middletown AD, Middletown, PA
380616 O-46A 35-174 97OS Mitchel Field, NY LAC 4
Lewis, Burton F. USA NJ Newark Airport, Newark, NJ
380725 B-10B 34-111 99BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 4
Upthegrove, Fay R. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
380809 BC-1 37-638 18RS Mitchel Field, NY TAC 3
Melville, Phillips USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
380923 O-46A 35-201 Org Res Mitchel Field, NY KSSPCR 5
Harper, Maitland C. USA NY South Bay, Hudson, NY
380924 B-10B 34-82 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3
Benn, William G USA NY Wheeler Sack Field, Pine Camp, Watertown, NY
380928 B-10B 5BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3
Simons, Richard W. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
381012 B-18 36-293 18RS Mitchel Field, NY CRGC 5
Nelson, Charles K. USA VA Water of Back Bay, E side Langley Fld, VA
381118 B-18A 37-468 99BS Mitchel Field, NY KMACO 5
Black, Robert K USA GA 7 mi NE of LaGrange, GA SEE article below
381122 B-18 37-30 HqSq 9BG Mitchel Field, NY ACC 2
Winn, Raymond L. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
381212 BC-1 38-379 5BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LACNO 4
Spilman, Lawrence A. USA CT Norwalk, CT
18 November, 1938
Douglas B-18A Bolo, 37-468, of the 99th Bomb Squadron, on a flight from Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, New York, to Maxwell Field, Alabama, crashed 7 miles NE of Lagrange, Georgia, in a night accident in rainy weather that blanketed most of the Southeast. Five of six crew, and two military passengers, were killed when the plane struck trees, possibly due to a downdraft. A dying member of the crew provided details of the crash before he expired. Pvt. Joseph Nanartowich said "We were flying low to get under the ceiling. It was raining. Suddenly we hit a rough spot and bounced. Next thing I knew we were plowing through the trees. There were no mechanical defects so far as I could tell." When rescuers reached the burning wreckage, they found Nanartowich and Lt. John D. Madre alive. Madre was still clinging to life, but unconscious the following day. Killed were pilot Robert K. Black, of Meridian, Georgia, Lt. Robert R. McKechnie, of Cleveland, Ohio, Lt. Allen M. Howery, of Russellville, Tennessee, and Sgt. Harry T. Jones, of Hempstead, New York. The passengers were Lt. James W. Stewart, of East Orange, New Jersey, who was returning to his station at Randolph Field, Texas, and Corp. J. E. Galloway, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, who was returning to his station in Dallas. The bomber had been heard circling Lagrange about 2300 hrs. and it was thought that the pilot was seeking an emergency landing field. Nearly two hours later a local share cropper made his way through the mud into town and told of the crash near his home.
Douglas B-18A Bolo, 37-468, of the 99th Bomb Squadron, on a flight from Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, New York, to Maxwell Field, Alabama, crashed 7 miles NE of Lagrange, Georgia, in a night accident in rainy weather that blanketed most of the Southeast. Five of six crew, and two military passengers, were killed when the plane struck trees, possibly due to a downdraft. A dying member of the crew provided details of the crash before he expired. Pvt. Joseph Nanartowich said "We were flying low to get under the ceiling. It was raining. Suddenly we hit a rough spot and bounced. Next thing I knew we were plowing through the trees. There were no mechanical defects so far as I could tell." When rescuers reached the burning wreckage, they found Nanartowich and Lt. John D. Madre alive. Madre was still clinging to life, but unconscious the following day. Killed were pilot Robert K. Black, of Meridian, Georgia, Lt. Robert R. McKechnie, of Cleveland, Ohio, Lt. Allen M. Howery, of Russellville, Tennessee, and Sgt. Harry T. Jones, of Hempstead, New York. The passengers were Lt. James W. Stewart, of East Orange, New Jersey, who was returning to his station at Randolph Field, Texas, and Corp. J. E. Galloway, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, who was returning to his station in Dallas. The bomber had been heard circling Lagrange about 2300 hrs. and it was thought that the pilot was seeking an emergency landing field. Nearly two hours later a local share cropper made his way through the mud into town and told of the crash near his home.
1939
390206 C-33 36-76 2TS Middletown A.I.D.,Middletown, PA LAC 3
Cavenah, K. A. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
390211 XP-38 37-457 Mat Div Wright Field, Dayton, OH FLEF 5
Kelsey, Benjamin S. USA NY Cold Stream Golf Course, Hempstead, NY See article below
390217 BC-1 38-378 GHQ AF Mitchel Field, NY TACSF 2
Cobb, Richard E USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
390714 BT-9C 38-252 Mitchel Field, NY KSSPCR 5
Durbin, Paul C. USA NY Bethpage State Park, Bethpage, LI, NY
390807 P-12D 31-273 1BS Mitchel Field, NY LACGL 3
Doerr, John J USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
390809 O-46A 35-190 97OS Mitchel Field, NY KMAC 5 T
homas, Morris E. USA NY Round Lake, NY
390809 O-46A 35-198 97OS Mitchel Field, NY MAC 3
Prince, William M USA NY Round Lake, NY
Cavenah, K. A. USANY Mitchel Field, NY
390211 XP-38 37-457 Mat Div Wright Field, Dayton, OH FLEF 5
Kelsey, Benjamin S. USA NY Cold Stream Golf Course, Hempstead, NY See article below
390217 BC-1 38-378 GHQ AF Mitchel Field, NY TACSF 2
Cobb, Richard E USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
390714 BT-9C 38-252 Mitchel Field, NY KSSPCR 5
Durbin, Paul C. USA NY Bethpage State Park, Bethpage, LI, NY
390807 P-12D 31-273 1BS Mitchel Field, NY LACGL 3
Doerr, John J USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
390809 O-46A 35-190 97OS Mitchel Field, NY KMAC 5 T
homas, Morris E. USA NY Round Lake, NY
390809 O-46A 35-198 97OS Mitchel Field, NY MAC 3
Prince, William M USA NY Round Lake, NY
390819 BC-1 38-3951SchSq Chanute Field, Rantoul, IL KCRGC 5
Ewing. W. G. USANY Denman Mountain, Grahamsville, NY
Ewing. W. G. USANY Denman Mountain, Grahamsville, NY
390831 O-43A 33-271 12OS Godman Field, Ft Knox, Ky LAC 2
Cole, Nester E USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
390919 P-12D 31-275 18RS Mitchel Field, NY BOACC 5
Sheffield, Charles P. USA NY Jericho, LI, NY
390919 P-12D 31-175 99BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY BOSSP 5
Toliver, Raymond F. USANY 5 mi S of Huntington, LI, NY
391008 B-18 36-263 1SchSq Chanute Field, Rantoul, IL TOA 3
Legg, Richard A. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
391012 P-12D 31-234 99BS Mitchel Field, NY LACGL 3
Moffat, William H. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
391012 P-12D 31-210 5BS 9BG Mitchel Field, Hempstead, NY LACNO 3
Rozwenc, George S. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
391023 P-12D 31-273 1BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LACGL 3
Selby, David C. USA NY Mitchel Field, NY
391117 O-46A 35-166 Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3
Durbin, M. C. USA NY Syracuse Airport,
391122 A-17 35-155 18RS Mitchel Field, NY LACNO 4
Gould, Campbell H. USA MD Logan Field, Dundalk, MD
391204 B-18A 37-586 99BS 9BG Mitchel Field, NY LAC 3
Truesdall, Karl, Jr USA NJ Princeton Field, Princeton, NJ
11 February 1939: Prototype Lockheed XP-38, 37-457,
After cross-country speed flight, Lockheed XP-38 Lightning prototype, 37-457, c/n 022-2201, crash landed on Cold Stream Golf Course on approach to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York when engines failed due to icing. Pilot Ben Kelsey survived. Attempts by authorities to shield "secret" design from local photographers fail miserably. There are dozens of photos.
Wreck of the prototype Lockheed XP-38, 37-457,
Cold Stream Golf Course, Hempstead, New York, 11 February 1939.
Sleek, Fast and Luckless: Time Magazine, Feb 20, 1939
She was sleek as freshly peeled willow. As overalled mechanics trundled her out for the warm-up at March Field one day last week she gleamed slimly among the bulb-nosed fighters, the potbellied bombers on the Army Air Corps Southern California airdrome. Major General Henry H. Arnold, greying Chief of the Air Corps, surveyed with particular approval her twin engines, Prestone-cooled V12 Allisons of 1,000 horsepower each, faired trimly into the metal wing. Well he knew that broad-beamed radial air-cooled motors, such as the big U. S. engine builders have brought to perfection, could not be used on such a ship without protruding in speed-killing humps on the wing's leading edges, that only the Allison (TIME, Jan. 30) could do the job cut out for the new fighter.
When the engines had been warmed up, Lieutenant Ben S. Kelsey, one of the Army's ace test pilots, buckled his parachute leg-straps, climbed into her independent midships compartment (she is twin-tailed) and took off. Half an hour later he landed, and delighted Henry Arnold issued a statement to the press about XP-38, the Air Corps's break from pursuit tradition. The ship, said he, "opens up new horizons of performance probably unattainable by nations banking solely on the single engine arrangement." Kelsey had traveled more than 350 miles an hour in the test. He was satisfied the Lockheed was highly maneuverable, had more than 400 miles an hour in her.
Day after the test, Ben Kelsey took the ship East, stopped 22 minutes at Amarillo for fuel, lost another 23 minutes at the gas pit in Dayton. When he whipped over Mitchel Field on Long Island, just as the sun was setting, he was seven hours, 45 minutes (elapsed time) out of March Field, 2,400 miles away, and only 17 minutes slower than Howard Hughes's record non-stop transcontinental flight in a racing plane in 1937.
Swinging swiftly in a wide arc he squared away for a landing, let down his landing gear. Then came some more of the sort of bad luck that has dogged new Army ships of late. As Pilot Kelsey suddenly realized that he was falling short, he opened his throttles to drag into the field. Without so much as a cough his left engine died. Plowing her wheels through a tree, the XP-38, with right engine throttled, slammed into the sand bunker of a golf course, came to a stop with her right wing torn off, her props hopelessly snaggled, her fuselage twisted (see cut). A passing motorist helped dazed Ben Kelsey from the wreck. He had been only slightly cut. (See another photo at bottom of page.)
Probably damaged beyond repair was XP-38. But in the Lockheed factory, at Burbank, Calif., were all the drawings, dies and jigs needed to make many more like her. Pilots said the twin-engined pursuit ship had joined the Air Corps.
Associated Press:"Mystery" Plane Crashes At End Of Test Speed Hop;
Fails to Break Hughes MarkNew York, February 11 (1939)-(AP)- A new secret twin-motor Army pursuit monoplane crashed into a tree on the edge of Mitchel Field on Long Island tonight at the end of a near-record transcontinental test flight. The pilot and sole occupant, Lieutenant Ben S. Kelsey, crack test flier, was saved from serious injury by the plane's all-steel cabin.
Kelsey took off from March Field, Calif., at 9:12 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time), stopped briefly at Amarillo, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and arrived here at 4:57 p.m. His elapsed time of 7 hours 45 minutes was only 16 minutes and 35 seconds longer than Howard Hughes's 1937 Burbank, Calif.-Newark, N.J. nonstop record.
He apparently overshot the field, observers said, and zoomed the motors to pick up speed and altitude. The right motor appeared to choke, sending him into a steep right turn.
As Kelsey cut the throttle again, the plane slipped down and sheared off the tops of trees bordering the field, the undercarriage caught in a thirty-five-foot tree, and the plane plunged down into a sand pit on the Cold Stream Golf Course. Bystanders pulled Kelsey out of the wreckage. He was taken to a hospital with cuts on one eye and one hand, and suffering from shock. He was released after examination.
Scores of cars jammed around the spot. Field officials threw a fifty-man guard around the wreckage and rushed the plane's instruments to the field office, their condition undetermined. Colonel James Chaney, field commandant, called an inquiry board into session immediately, with Kelsey present. The findings were expected to be kept secret and sent to Washington in an army plane. The weather at the time of the crash was clear, with a light shifting wind. At the time of the crash it was blowing southeast.
The plane was a new Lockheed, the Army's first twin-engined pursuit plane, completed at the Lockheed Burbank plant two weeks ago and capable of doing 350 miles an hour. It was an all-metal single-seater, with stratosphere operating equipment, tricycle undercarriage, and super-high lift devices. It was designed to carry a nest of high-power machine guns, but none today. Its designation was XP-38.
Kelsey left Amarillo at 12:21 p.m. (E.S.T.), stopped at Dayton for 20 minutes, and took off at 3:34 p.m. (E.S.T.) His distance was estimated officially at about 2,400 miles. Hughes flight was about 2,587 miles.
Kelsey, 33, is married and is regularly assigned to the laboratory division of Wright Field, Dayton.
Cold Stream Golf Course, Hempstead, New York, 11 February 1939.
Sleek, Fast and Luckless: Time Magazine, Feb 20, 1939
She was sleek as freshly peeled willow. As overalled mechanics trundled her out for the warm-up at March Field one day last week she gleamed slimly among the bulb-nosed fighters, the potbellied bombers on the Army Air Corps Southern California airdrome. Major General Henry H. Arnold, greying Chief of the Air Corps, surveyed with particular approval her twin engines, Prestone-cooled V12 Allisons of 1,000 horsepower each, faired trimly into the metal wing. Well he knew that broad-beamed radial air-cooled motors, such as the big U. S. engine builders have brought to perfection, could not be used on such a ship without protruding in speed-killing humps on the wing's leading edges, that only the Allison (TIME, Jan. 30) could do the job cut out for the new fighter.
When the engines had been warmed up, Lieutenant Ben S. Kelsey, one of the Army's ace test pilots, buckled his parachute leg-straps, climbed into her independent midships compartment (she is twin-tailed) and took off. Half an hour later he landed, and delighted Henry Arnold issued a statement to the press about XP-38, the Air Corps's break from pursuit tradition. The ship, said he, "opens up new horizons of performance probably unattainable by nations banking solely on the single engine arrangement." Kelsey had traveled more than 350 miles an hour in the test. He was satisfied the Lockheed was highly maneuverable, had more than 400 miles an hour in her.
Day after the test, Ben Kelsey took the ship East, stopped 22 minutes at Amarillo for fuel, lost another 23 minutes at the gas pit in Dayton. When he whipped over Mitchel Field on Long Island, just as the sun was setting, he was seven hours, 45 minutes (elapsed time) out of March Field, 2,400 miles away, and only 17 minutes slower than Howard Hughes's record non-stop transcontinental flight in a racing plane in 1937.
Swinging swiftly in a wide arc he squared away for a landing, let down his landing gear. Then came some more of the sort of bad luck that has dogged new Army ships of late. As Pilot Kelsey suddenly realized that he was falling short, he opened his throttles to drag into the field. Without so much as a cough his left engine died. Plowing her wheels through a tree, the XP-38, with right engine throttled, slammed into the sand bunker of a golf course, came to a stop with her right wing torn off, her props hopelessly snaggled, her fuselage twisted (see cut). A passing motorist helped dazed Ben Kelsey from the wreck. He had been only slightly cut. (See another photo at bottom of page.)
Probably damaged beyond repair was XP-38. But in the Lockheed factory, at Burbank, Calif., were all the drawings, dies and jigs needed to make many more like her. Pilots said the twin-engined pursuit ship had joined the Air Corps.
Associated Press:"Mystery" Plane Crashes At End Of Test Speed Hop;
Fails to Break Hughes MarkNew York, February 11 (1939)-(AP)- A new secret twin-motor Army pursuit monoplane crashed into a tree on the edge of Mitchel Field on Long Island tonight at the end of a near-record transcontinental test flight. The pilot and sole occupant, Lieutenant Ben S. Kelsey, crack test flier, was saved from serious injury by the plane's all-steel cabin.
Kelsey took off from March Field, Calif., at 9:12 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time), stopped briefly at Amarillo, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and arrived here at 4:57 p.m. His elapsed time of 7 hours 45 minutes was only 16 minutes and 35 seconds longer than Howard Hughes's 1937 Burbank, Calif.-Newark, N.J. nonstop record.
He apparently overshot the field, observers said, and zoomed the motors to pick up speed and altitude. The right motor appeared to choke, sending him into a steep right turn.
As Kelsey cut the throttle again, the plane slipped down and sheared off the tops of trees bordering the field, the undercarriage caught in a thirty-five-foot tree, and the plane plunged down into a sand pit on the Cold Stream Golf Course. Bystanders pulled Kelsey out of the wreckage. He was taken to a hospital with cuts on one eye and one hand, and suffering from shock. He was released after examination.
Scores of cars jammed around the spot. Field officials threw a fifty-man guard around the wreckage and rushed the plane's instruments to the field office, their condition undetermined. Colonel James Chaney, field commandant, called an inquiry board into session immediately, with Kelsey present. The findings were expected to be kept secret and sent to Washington in an army plane. The weather at the time of the crash was clear, with a light shifting wind. At the time of the crash it was blowing southeast.
The plane was a new Lockheed, the Army's first twin-engined pursuit plane, completed at the Lockheed Burbank plant two weeks ago and capable of doing 350 miles an hour. It was an all-metal single-seater, with stratosphere operating equipment, tricycle undercarriage, and super-high lift devices. It was designed to carry a nest of high-power machine guns, but none today. Its designation was XP-38.
Kelsey left Amarillo at 12:21 p.m. (E.S.T.), stopped at Dayton for 20 minutes, and took off at 3:34 p.m. (E.S.T.) His distance was estimated officially at about 2,400 miles. Hughes flight was about 2,587 miles.
Kelsey, 33, is married and is regularly assigned to the laboratory division of Wright Field, Dayton.
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11 February 1939: Barely two weeks after its first flight, First Lieutenant Benjamin Scovill (“Ben”) Kelsey, U.S. Army Air Corps, took the prototype Lockheed XP-38, 37-457, on a record-breaking transcontinental flight from March Field, Riverside, California, to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York.
Lieutenant Kelsey departed March Field at 6:32 a.m., Pacific Standard Time, (9:32 a.m., Eastern) and flew to Amarillo, Texas for the first of two refueling stops. He arrived there at 12:22 p.m., EST, and remained on the ground for 22 minutes. The XP-38 took off at 12:44 p.m., EST, and Kelsey flew on to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. He landed there at 3:10 p.m. EST. Kelsey was met by Major General H.H. Arnold, and it was decided to continue to New York. The XP-38 was airborne again at 3:28 p.m., EST, on the final leg of his transcontinental flight. Kelsey was overhead Mitchel Field, New York at 4:55 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, but his landing was delayed by other airplanes in the traffic pattern. On approach, the XP-38 was behind several slower training planes, so Lieutenant Kelsey throttled back the engines. When he tried to throttle up, the carburetor venturis iced and the engines would not accelerate, remaining at idle. The airplane crashed on a golf course short of the airport. |
First Lieutenant Benjamin Scovill (“Ben”) Kelsey,
U.S. Army Air Corps, |
The total elapsed time was 7 hours, 45 minutes, 36 seconds but Kelsey’s actual flight time was 7 hours, 36 seconds. The prototype had averaged 340 miles per hour (547 kilometers per hour) and had reached 420 miles per hour (676 kilometers per hour) during the Wright Field-to-Mitchel Field segment.
Kelsey’s transcontinental flight failed to break the transcontinental speed record set two years earlier by Howard R. Hughes by 17 minutes, 11 seconds. It should be noted, however, that Hughes H-1 Racer flew non-stop from coast to coast, while the XP-38 required two time-consuming fuel stops.
Kelsey’s transcontinental flight failed to break the transcontinental speed record set two years earlier by Howard R. Hughes by 17 minutes, 11 seconds. It should be noted, however, that Hughes H-1 Racer flew non-stop from coast to coast, while the XP-38 required two time-consuming fuel stops.
The prototype Lockheed XP-38, 37-457, being refueled at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, during the transcontinental speed record attempt, 11 February 1939. (Unattributed)
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