The Penn's Grove record., 1919-11-28
AviatOrs Plunge to Death
Two Flyers Drop Into The Delaware
River Near Penns Grove and
Are Drowned

A naval aviation pilot and a civilian
inspector were drowned on Monday
when a flying boat in which they were
riding encountered an air pocket over
the Delaware River, near Penns Grove,
and plunged, nose first, into the stream.
Several hundred persons aboard the
city of Chester, of the Wilson Line,
which was proceeding down stream,
witnessed the accident and shouted en-
enlargement to three members of the
crew who put off in a small boat il a
heroic but Intellectual attempt to save
the hiers.
While the sailors were searching for
the aviators another flying boat dropped
to the water and drew up beside the
wrecked craft. An officer aboard leap
ed into the water, but could find no
trace of the two unfortunate aviators.
Lieutenant Robert Stoker, % years
old, of Washington, d. C., and Fred
Thompson, 20 years old, of Dover,
Maine, were the two men who lost
their lives.
Were Making Test Flight
Leaving the Philadelphia Navy Yard
shortly after noon, the flying boat,
piloted by Lieutenant Stoker, started
down the Delaware on a test flight.
For the better part of an hour the big
ship. of the M. F." type. passed up. and
IN v oAAA ~
be w~orkingly perfectly.
In the flight the boat was accompa-
aiod by a machine tof the N-9 type,
piloted by Lieutenant Williams, who is
attached to the Navy Yard. Passengers
aboard the City of Chester were intent
Ii watching the two flying boats ma
.neuver. A mile north of Penns Grove
the boat marked A-5225 showed signs
of distress. Flying fairly low. the big
PLANE suddenly veered, first to the
right and then to the left.
The pilot could be seen working des-
2erateiy to right the craft, but .gradu-
ally control went out of his hands.
The flying boat CAV a final lurch and
then started. nose first. for the water.
Striking the stream a few yards off the
stern Of the City of Chester the craft
went under the water. and when it
again appeared it's bottom was up-
turned.
The Bodies Not Recovered
Members of the crew hastily put out
in a iifeboat, but the aviators never
came to the surface. Meanwhile the
second airplane lowered about for a
few minutes and then settled in the
river neal the spot where the first ma
chine was wrecked. No sooner had it
touched the water than Lieutenant
Williams leaped overheard. For a half
hOu liz liz 80 - ~
water, but he was unable to find trace
of the ~aviators.
Thinking the two flyers might have
been Wedged beneath the body of the
plane, two men from the crew of the
City of Chester climbed to her upturn-
ed bottom and chopped a large hole
through to the engine. This effort to
locate the aviators was also unavailing.
wrecked Plane flowed In
--l IL
flying officer were making their effort
to find the drowned aviators, the Gov
eminent lighthouse tender Woodbine
came up stream and took charge of the
wrecked machine. 1t was towed back
to the Navy Yard.
At the Navy Yard Monday night
officers said the accident was caused
by a combination of bad winds and an
air pocket. Captain G.. Fl. Baldow, of
the City of Chester, said he believed
the flying boat developed engine
trouble and was attempting to alight
on the river for repairs.
The accident sent passengers on the
City of Chester in a furore of excite
Inent. When the flying boat was seen
dropping into the stream women
shrieked and men cried loudly for
boats. Two women tainted when it be-
came known that the aviaters were
lost.
The unfortunate pilot apparently
started in to give the teamer passen-
gers an exhibition, and it was thought
was getting ready for a feat when tn
fatal trouble occurred. The plane tilt
ed all of a sudden and made three COM
pIete turns. When it started on its
plurge Stoker and Thomp-
son both undid their belts. and accord
ing to the ships passengers. apparently
leaped from the machine in an encrt
to save themselves. People turned as
the bodies shot through the air.
News of the tragedy spread rapidly
along both shores and many small
boats put out to aid in the search for
the bodies.
The occupants of the other plane.
far away. apparently witnessed the ac-
cident. They turned their plane to-
ward the scene and with the boats
from the Navy Yard searched the sur
face of the, stream for the bodies.
Navy Vary officials at once began an
investigation. Lieutenant Stoker was
the son of Captain r. Stoker of the
bureau of construction and repairs, u.
s. N. He was in the aerial service in
France. T~hompson's home Is in Dover,
Me.
Strenuous efforts nave been mad
since the catastrophe to locate the
bodies of the two men. Yesterday two
submarine chasers and a large cont1n-
gent of sailors and marines in six lire
boats were there all day. Depth bombs
were used, dragging the bottom with
hooks and various other means were
tried.
Hundreds of people from Penns
Grove and surrounding neighborhood
visit the scene every day and watch
the work.
Judge Duffy's Night School
re. porougb Recorder. held