Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-11-09
ACCIDENT n I 10 AYIATQRs J.
Naval Flyers and Machine Bdown tc
Pieces by Bomb Near Indian Head
Yesterday.

In the course of a spectacular eH'
pertinent with new type OF aero
plane bomb at Indian Head, Md,
IS 1-2 miles below Alexandra, yes
terday afternoon Naval Lieutenant'
Clarence X. Bronson and Luther
Welsh were instantly killed.
While flying at an altitude Of
1000 feet the bomb exploded I'M
nlediately, beneath the aeroplane
breaking it in two. Bronson, pilot Of
the machine, and Welsh, who had just
hurled the bomb, fell together with
parts of the acroplanc, into the Po'
tomac river.
The accident occurred at the navy
proving grounds, at 2:45, o'clock. Ex'
reriments with the new aeroplane
bomb were being conducted under
the supervision of Lieutenant Wilk-
inson and other experts from the Bu-
rcau of Ordnance. The explosive with
which the bomb was charged was said
to be one If the most powerful ever
experimented with, but the secret
of it's composition is guarded by the
Navy Department.
The official account of the accident
was given out by the Navy Depart
ment as follows:
'Lieut. Luther Welsh and Lieut.. c.
K. Bronson were killed yesterday
afternoon by the premature explo-
sion of an aeroplane bomb during
experimental work in testing bombs
for use against vessels.
"The bomb detonated Immediately
beneath the aeroplane. 1t was being
launched by Lieutenant Welsh, and
struck some part of the
aeroplane. 1t was seen to detonate,
and the aeroplane break in two and
fall into the river Hardly any trace
of aeroplane or passengers has been
located yet
.'AspoEtion9 of.@a2ku,nanss stomach
has been recovered from the. river,
but that is all.
"This occurred at 2:45 p. m. yes
terday. The experiments were being
conducted by Lieutenant Wilkinson
and representatives Of the Bureau of
Ordnance
Lieutenant Wilkinson later inform
ed the department that a search:
parry had proceeded 9. onre to the
scene of the accident and dragged
the river. Nothing additional was
recovered, however, except a por-
tion of one seat of the aeroplane
and part of the tail
Naval officials declared this to be
the first accident of the kind in the
history of aviation.
The Navy Department notified the
families Of the two officers killed.
Lieutenant Bronson was born in
Bushnell, ILL.,, July 21. 1888, and was
appointed midshipman June IS, 1906
from New York, Ninth district. He
was graduated from the Naval Acad.
emy in 1912 and assigned to the Mis-
slssippi for aviation duty. In April,
1915, after his promotion to lieuten-
ant, he was designated as naval avia-
tor for duty involving actual flying
in aircraft. On September l, last he
was ordered to temporary duty at
Newport News, Va, to study avia,
ton at an aviation school.
Lieutenant Welch was born at Kan
sas City, Mo-, June 20, 1889, and was
appointed midshipman July 8, 1905,
from the Fifth Missouri district. He
was graduated in 1909, a star in his
class. He served on several ships
and in the Bureau Of Ordnance. later
continuing courses at the proving
grounds and at various steel works
lie was promoted to lieutenant in
1915 and served as an aid on the
staff of the commander of the Thirc
division. Atlantic feet. On March
Is last he was assigned to duty al
Indian Head.