The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17
TWO ARMY FILTERS
PLUNGE TO DEATH
Wing Of Battlcplane Buckles
Returning From Hunt for
U-BOats.
Special Despdtch to The Sun.

CoMMAcK. l.. J., Aug. 1.-two army
officers. who had nearly finished their
training as fighting aviators ana were
to start soon to engage in actual comoe
on the western front, plunged to their
deaths to-day when wing or their Cur
tiss battle plane buckled near the Henry
j. Damn Flying Field. They were re-
turning from flight seward in search
OF German C-boat raiders. and had been
in battle maneuvres. together with sew
enteen other planes when the acciden.
happened.
Second Lieut.. Harold F. Maxon. %. of
Los Angeles. was operating the machine
which dropped into a sudden nose dive
when about 500 feet up. His safety
strap broke when tho plane reached
point half way to the ground. Maxons
BODY shot downward as though thrown
from a catapuit and he was instantly
killed.
Farm Employee Secs Accident.
Second Lieut.. G.. f. Gedeon Of Titus
vile. Pa. the other occupant OF the bat
tleplane. which was equipped with
Hispano-Suiza motor, remained In his
seat. He was still living when taken
from the debris. but died on his way to
the base hospital at Mineola.
The ayiators have been In training at
the Mitchell Flying Field at Mineola and
came TO Commack about week ago Tor
final instruction in battle tactics before
sailing for France. Both men had ex-
cellent records and were regarded as
skilled airmen.
The eighteen planes from the Damn
field went up this morning and had been
circling offshore on the chance OF dis
covering lurking u-boat. as has been
their daily custom since the beginning OF
the recent coastal raids upon shipping
They had been flying for about an hour
and were in combat practice on their re-
turn to the field.
An employee on the farm Of Horace
Hevemeyer heard a loud report and saw
the plane containing Maxon and Gedeon
go into a nose spin. He at first be-
leved the aviators were simply man9u-
wiring, but when they had dropped like
plummet for 800 feet he saw Maxon
shoot from his seat. his body turning
over. and over before 1t struck. The
farm employee telephoned news OF the
! accident to Damn Field and motor
ambulance was sent speeding to where
the wreck had landed,
Thinks Wing Buckled.
Major J. E. East. commandment OF the
Mitchell Field. named a board of inquiry
| consisting of three army officers. They
passed the day in examining witnesses
and will make their report tomorrow.
Major East said tonight there was
| nothing to indicate any imperfection in
the motor or in the battleplane, which
was of the Curtiss H" type.
II was Major Easts opinion that the
accident was due to tie buckling of one
OF the aeroplanes ngs in making a
turn.
This Is the first fatal accident among
American flying officers at the eastern
end OF Long Island. 1t is expected bat
tie manRuvres and ocean scouting will
| be resumed by the fifty odd officers here
| tomorrow as usual. Both Lieutenants
, were young men of pleasing personality
! and were held in high regard by their
comrades. They were enthusiastic over
their flying and had frequently expressed
! satisfaction that their period OF training
was almost ended and that they would
| soon be making actual flights over the
German lines