Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-07
4 Injured
In Crash at
Air Field
Ashmussen ''Bluebird" Falls
IS Feet, Carrying Pilot and
Passengers to Earth
Plane Destroyed.
One is Seriously Hurt

four women were inJureu-onc
seriously-when an Ashmussen hve-
passenger "Bluebird" airplane sud-
IDENTIFY rosc-divcd into the ground at
the north field Sunday afternoon.
The crash came when the pilot,
c. J.. Bowen. turned the plane quick
ly, in order to avoid going over the
river when his motor suddenly stop
ped. II he had not turned suddenly,
the plane and the passengers would
have nose-dived into the river, air
men-witnesses OF the accident said.
The women. all members OF the
Fontenelc hotel orchestra, were
taken to the Swedish Mission hos
pital. Bowen escaped with minor
injuries.
One Severely Hurt
The injured were:
Lucille Atkinson, internal injuries,
right leg fractured and may be am
putated, face and body cut condi-
ton serious.
Margaret Haggerty, hip dislocated
and badly bruised, face and body
bruises.
Vera Rache, cuts on face and body.
Thelma Fisher, face and body bad
ly bruised.
More than 1000 persons, who were
watching the many planes taking of
from the field, stood aghast as the
huge "Bluebird" suddenly crashed
TO the ground. The machine was
about IS feet in the air when the
motor stopped.
Spectators Extricate Women.
Pilots and airmen, who have been
here for the congress, helped eXtri-
cate the women and the pilot from
the ruined plane Nearby automo-
biles were pressed into service and
the four women were taken to the
hospital.
Hundreds of men and women DASH
ed onto the field near the scene of
the accident and many carried away
pieces of the plane as souvenirs.
Because of the wind the planes
took off toward the river" said Rex
Uden, secretary of the newly-formed
sirmen's association. "The Blue
bird hoped off gracefully and rose
as perfect as a bird Just as it
reached about IS feet we noticed
there was something the matter. The
machine and its five passengers was
headed toward the river. If the
plane had gone few feet farther
and fallen, drowning would have
been the fate Of the planes occ,,-
pants.
Bowen Did Only Thing"
"There was only one thing Bowen
could do. And he did it. by sud
denly turning his plane. There was
not enough room for him to turn
around and the nose-dive was the
result. If he had been higher. he
could have righted his plane and if
the river had not been in his path
he could have landed as perfectly
as he hoped off,"
The girls were given the ride,
uden said, because of their co-opera-
ton in entertaining the airmen dur
ing the meet. They had planned to
go up Saturday, but the flight was
postponed until Sunday.
Miss Atkinson was still uncon-
scious at late hour last night. Miss
Fisher did not appear frightened by
her experience.
II expect to take another try at it
as soon as | get out Of the hospital
said Miss Fisher. "What we had OF
it was good, but I don't want any
more nose~dives."
Pilots Laud Bowen.
Airmen who saw the crash lauded
Bowen's work in landing the plane
on this side of the river.
Pilot Bowen was commander of
the Second Aero squadron during the
late war, out OF which 163 flyers
were graduated for duty over the
battle lines in France. He is con.
sidered one of the most competent
pilots in the country. never having
had an airplane accident until yes
terday.
He has been associated with the
NoiiiilusseH MdHuidStuIIiiR company
for more than year and personally
designed the 'Bluebird" several
months ago.
Ship Pronounced Safe,
The plane has Salmson French
motor. nine-cylinder radial type.
Pilot Bowen has flown the Blue
bird" almost every day since it was
built and the ship was pronounced
exceptional in design and safety by
experienced pilots.
The 'Bluebird," with Pilot Bowen.
Mechanician ]. Fl. Luce and two
passengers. recently completed
round trip flight 400 miles into the
sand hills.
Dl, o1ne ro4 NJ E.1