The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-05-30
ARMY OFFICIALS CARPENTER PAYS.
TO MAKE PROBE ROOSEVELT Tomb
AIRPLANE CRASH MEMORIAL VISIT
Five Army Officers and
Two Civilians Met Death
When Electrical Storm
Was Encountered.


Washington, May 30-Army officials
were preparing today for an official
investigation of the crash during a
storm last Saturday, near Indian Head,
Maryland, Of the ambulance airplane
in which seven men, five army Off.
GERS and two civilians met death. The
fact that every occupant of the ma
chine was killed, compelling board of
inquiry to depend largely on the OBJ
servations OF distant eye-witnesses in
forming its conclusions, made it ap-
pear doubtful that the exact cause of
the disaster could be developed.
The plane, q Curtis-Eagle, which
had been divested of it's ambulance
equipment, was making a return flight
from Langley Field, Va, to Washing
ton, when 1t encountered a severe elec.
trical storm, accompanied by winds,
estimated to be blowing at a hundred
mile velocity.
Eye witnesses, said the plane, un-
able to make headway in the wind de-
scended apparently in an attempt to
land, but after dropping to within
about one hundred feet of the ground
approached a clump of trees and swer-
we'd upward. The trees were cleared,
but as the plane started for an open
field nearby, it was seen to culver,
turn over and dive vertically to earth
Those who reached the wreck first,
found all seven dead. The bodies were
closely grouped together, some bad
ly mutilated by the engine which had
been torn from its bed and thrown
backward, cutting the men down like
u scythe, as it ploughed through the
narrow passenger compartment. A
watch later found had stopped at 6:25
o'clock, showing the time of the trag-
edy.
Army officers who viewed the wreck
age said it was the worst they had
ever seen and were at loss to un.
derstand how it could have resulted
from such short fall.
Several officers killed wore decora-
tions for service in the world war and
both of the civilians were widely
known in public life. Lieut.. Col. Ar
chic Miller served in the Spanish-Amer.
lean war and the Philippine insurrec-
ton, where he won the congressional
medal Of honor and in the world war.
He at one time was in command of
Mitchell Field, Long Island. Lieuten.
ant Stanley NJ. Ames, who had been
married only about three weeks. serv-
ed in both the Canadian and American
forces overseas, and suffered a severe
bayonet wound while with the Cana.
dians. He was regarded as an expert
pilot as well as an authority in aero
engineering. Both he and Lieut.. Col
Miller made their home in Washington.
Lieut.. c. w. McDermott, whose home
was in Syracuse, n. Y, was stationed
at Langley Field. He served in both
the Canadian and American flying
forces and was decorated by both gov.
ernments for valor in the world war
He was officially credited with bring
ing down two German planes. Lieut.,
John NJ. Penniwell was stationed at
Langley Field, having recently been
sent from Kelly Field, Texas, for the
aerial bombing operations next month
Sergeant Richard Blumenkranz, an ex
ling Field here.
Maurice Connolly, a civilian from
Dubuque, Iowa, was sales manager OF
the Curtis Airplane company and q
former congressman. He served in the
air service during the war with the
rank Of major.
A. G. Batchelder, the other civilian
killed was a former newspaperman and
one of the organizers Of the American
Automobile Association and chairman
OF its board Of directors. He was Q
native Of Attica, N. Y.
The bodies were brought to Wash
ington and taken to Walter Reed Hos
pital where they were being held pend
ing advices from relatives.
Other machines returning from the
Langley Field maneuvers, were caught
in the storm that wrecked the big am
bulance plane and several flyers mar
rowly escaped death. One Of these wa!
Brig. Gen VIM. Mitchell, assistant
chief OF the army air service, who fin
ally bested the elements and ESCAPED
the storm area by going miles out o.
his course. before landing at Boiling
Field.
Captain B. s. Wright flying a FOX
ker machine, did not fare SO we'll HI
was caught In the wind and forceC
down. In attempting to land, hi
plane crashed, but he escaped with
only a bad shaking up and bruises
although his craft was completed!
v,reckpd