The Washington herald., 1922-06-27
Washington World War
Hero Dies on Gettys-
burg Battlefield.
CRAFT MECHANISM
FAILS 1000 FEET UP
Well Known for Prowess
On Athletic Field of
Central High.

Capt. George Wallis Hamilton, of
the United States Marine Corps air
service, stationed at the Marine
base, Quant!co. Va.-one of Wash
Of the world war-is dead.
While flying in battle formation
with three other planes, performing
scout duty for tfe Marine Expedition :
ary Force as 1t entered the famoos
civil war battlefield at Gettysburg.
Pa. yesterday afternoon. the airplane
carrying Capt. Hamilton and his OBJ
server, Gunnery Sergeant George r.
nose dive and spin. hurting them to
the ground. about 1000 feet below.
The accident occurred on the site
OF Pickett's charge, about one mile
east of the town. just as the march
ing Marines were filing of the Get
tysburg road into the enclosure near
the Virginia monument, upon which
Camp Harding has been erected.
Other members of the air scout
squadron. OF which Capt. Hamilton
was commander were Capt. +. p.
Mulcahy. Lieut.. w. ]. Wallace and
Lieut. w d. Culberson.
Difference In Altimeter. I.
In the opinion of the accompany
aViators. tho accident was due to the
difference in the reading of the alti-
meter. by which fiers estimate their
distance from the ground, at Quantico
and Gettysburg. Quantico is on sea
level. while Gettysburg is 500 feet
above sea level. Consequently, when
.lsf, fk
latter place. the act:al distance -
only 400 feet.
Hence IL is believed. that when
Capt. Hamilton went into the nose
dive he supposed that he had suf-
frient distance in which to right
his plane and therefore took more
.ime than he would have had he
known that danger was imminent.
This belief is borne out by. the
fact that when he took energetic
measures his machine seemed to
respond perfectly. so that IL he
had 200 feet or more of distance
from the ground he would have
been able to save himself and his
observer. All of the fiers, how
ever. had been warned of the alti-
tude differences.
Immediately after the accident
Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler ap-
pointed a board of inquest to in
vestigate the cause of the fatal ac-
cident. The board personnel L. as
follows: Capt. Louis Bourne.
Capt. James T. Moore and Lieut.
II. B. Major.
As the crippled plane descended.
at a rate of approximately zoo
miles an hour, it narrowly missed
tent erected along the Gettys-
bury road by circus company.
striking the ground at an angle
of As degrees. Several hundred
persons witnessed the fatal plunge
Capt. Hamilton was dead when h $
mutilated body was extricated from
the wreckage, but Sergt. Martin
was rushed to the Gettysburg Hos.
pital, where he. died a shor' time
after admission.
Father Newspaper Man.
When in this city. Capt. HamiI.
ton resided with his father. c. A.
Hamilton. Washington correspond
ent for the Buffalo Times, at 1855
Harvard street northwest.
Aside from his notable record OF
| service during the world war-re-
ceivIng seven citations for extraor-
binary ,heroism--Capt. Hamilton,
who was % years old. is well-known
here for his distinguished athletic
performances while a student al
Central High School.
Surviving are his father. ons
brother. Charles Burwcll Hamilton
of Buffalo. N. Y. and two sisters
Mrs. r. c. Barnard. and Miss Mar
garet Dorothy Hamilton, both OF
Conesus. N. Y.
VIII Send Bodies Here.
Both bodies will be sent to Wash.
ington from Gettysburg today. Ar.
rangements for the funerals will D,
announced later. Capt. Hamilton's
father will make arrangements foi
his sons burial Immediately upor
his return from Conesus, N. Y.
where he has been visiting his
daughters.
During the first day of the
Chateau Thierry offensive. Capt
Hamilton displayed the highes,
type of courage and leadership ;
! according to the official citation
| from the commanding general OF
the American Expeditionary Forces
when his command was under
decimating fire from the front and
both f1anks.
"All of his commissioned officers
and most OF his noncommissioned
officers having been killed OF
wounded" the citation continues
I"he passed up and down his from,
lines and by his. personal bravery
inspired his men to valiant and sue.
cessful combat, under especially
dificult conditions"
Service In Commendea.
Upon receipt of this statement o,
the young Marine officers bravery
| Brig. Gen. Charles s. Long. of tns
United States Marine Corps. dis
patched letter of commendation &C
the father.
Other awards re0eived by Capt
Hamilton as the result of his cour.
ageous actions under fire were:
Croix de Guerre with palm fol
heroisu: in the Belleau Wood en-
| gagements. .SG
| Croix de Guerre with palms fol
gallantry In action against the en-,
emy in the Meuse-Argonne often,
sive and capture OF Blanc Mont.
/ Army Citation Certificate awarded
by the commanding general of tn,
A. E. F., for gallantry during tn,
battle of Blanc Mont Ridge.
! Navy Cross for extraordinar,
heroismS in action near Bois de Bel
/ ieau.
v continsed on Puoe Too.