The Washington herald., 1921-06-01
Others Expected to Die
As Result of Ex-
plosion.
OFFICERS AMONG
SERIOUSLY HURT
One Civilian Included in
Death List at Prov
ing Grounds.

ABERDEEN. Nd. May sI.-Four
enlisted men and one civilian are
dead, and three officers and sever
enlisted men are lying in the mill
tary hospital at the Aberdeen prov
ing grounds as the result Of the
explosion of a 50-pound INT air
plane bomb about IL o'clock this
forenoon.
The oficiAI list of dead and
wounded. as given out by the Aber-
deem hospital authorities late last
night, showed:
Private Allen W. Shermer. 18th
Private Z. n. Grinnel. 18th Aero
squadron.
DIED FROM WOUNDS.
Corporal Raymond r. Dohle. stth
Ordnance company.
Private l. :. Hite. 18th Aerc
squadron.
Robert NJ Herr. a civilian en-
ployed at the proving grounds.
INJURED(
| NdpA- SoSFpn f1dll. AIT service
/ not expected TO live. wounded very
seriously about the head and eyes
bombing of1cer on the death plane
Lieut. Carl G. Elisson. Air service
deep muscular wound on right side
ust above hip, pilot Of the plane
/ recovery expected.
! Lieut.. Thomas r. Reese, Air serv-
ice. injured about the arm. ma,
lose right hand.
/ Private Samuel weinstock, 3ttf
Ordnance company. serial nurlbeI
eo2s3l7, lung pUnctured by piece o.
shell: not expected to live.
| Private T.. W Hall. 18th Aert
squadron, seriously wounded: re.
coyery doubtful. may lose arm.
Private NJ. D. BlevinS. i4th Aers
squadron. badly injured: recovery
doubtful.
Private Charles J. oNeill. 3ttf
ronance company; recovery doubt.
full
Private Edward larry. s4th ord.
nance compny: recovery doubtful
Private l. J Titlow. seth Ordnancs
company: recovery expected
Private Stanley Il. Naabb. ava
Ordnance company.
Piano Was on Ground
The plane was on the ground
when the accident occurred. beins
made ready for a bomb-testing flight
in preparation. il was stated. foI
the tests TO he held between the
al my and navy aviaors when the
former Gesman battleships will b.
bombed of the Virginia csPes thS
later uart OF June
The plane. a de HsViland 4-B. with
wing spread Of a. feet. had beer
used before in bombing work. The
bomb-droppInE mechanism was OF
tried and tested type which hac
proven its reliability.
| The accident was attributed ~
various aviators to that fate whicr
watches over the destinies Of those
who are conquering the air.
-Four sO-Pound Bombs.
There were four 5O-pound TN7
bombs. each three feet lonE and sta
inches in diameter. attached TO the
plsre two being under each wins
in the bomb racks. Capt. Hall anc
Lieut.. Eliason were in the cockpit
ready to start the fight. The en-
gine was working perfectly.
One of the bombs under the lefi
wing Of the plane broke from thu
fastening and fell to the ground
Capt Hall. who has the reputation
Of being an extremely careful 81
Ger. whose cautiousness, his natet
said. had caused him to be the hulf
of many jokes. got out Of the rlert
and personally saw the bomb placct
back into position. He then futth<<
ssted the mechanism, and eNtrt-
thing seemed all right as ne ctiiN 80
back into his seat.
Private Shermer and Grinnell r0c
were Killed almost Instantly. rrtt
on the other wing OF the
ready to push il around 20 90 t1<
Va ind before taking the air. ~ Ap-T
started 10 push the wing the oonl
dropped again from the
fastening. 9W
warned by Spectators crr-
Warned by a cry from the 90 rp"T
ers tha, the bomb had again of4p
ned. Cant Hall peered oVer <r<
edge of the cockpit, but IL
lieved that his view was oosr1f<1
The tail Of the plane. witt ~
heavy stake which IL used e 70
tard its speed when stopping TT
flight moving just on the gtQrrt
swung steadily on toward the Drrc1
But in dropping the second tir,t =
the wire which held the safeug -
vice on the bomb. which mutr -
removed before the charge car H.
detonated. held fast The sctip1 -
the bomb dropping. coupled Hi<f
the holding wire and the tUrrir<
Of the plane. caused this holdl1t
wire TO unscrew the safety go
and the bomb lay on the grut-nr
alive"
Eveen then. h would reQu,H< .
considerable blow TO dischartt -
powerful explosive charge. And tht
fate which watches over aviatort
decreed that this blow. which hso
to land on about a twO-inch circle
should be given by the stake under
the rudder. as Shermer and Grin