New Britain herald., 1922-02-22
Those Killed In Crash Include Some of Most Gallant Officers And Men In Nations Air Service
War Dept. Officials at Lass To Explain Collapse of Rudder Which Caused Big Gas Bag to Grad.

Norfolk, Na,. Feb. 1S~{0mpletely
 wrecked by fire and explosion, the Roma, the worlds largest semi-rigid
 airship and the pride Of the American air service, had yielded ID today the last of the dead of the disaster which overlook her yesterday while man. cuvering over Hampton Roads and sent her hurting downwsrd to crash into the network of high power clec- trc wires that wrought her destruc- tion
 3i Persons Dead.
 Recovery of the last body fixed the toll of the disaster-thc greatest in the history of American aeronautics at S4 dead s injured and 3 prac- tically unhurt. or the dead. 30 had been identified. although many of the bodies of those caught in the interior of the ship when she crashed were burned, blackened and charred al- most beyond recognition. Those dead included some of the air services most gallant officers and men, the list containing the names of Major John Thornel. commander of the ship at her christening in Washington last December, and Captain Dale Mabry. her commander during yesterdays ill., fated flight.
 Cleaning Up Wreckage.
 Air service men from Langley field, the home station of the craft, began shortly after dawn today the clearing up of the wrcckage of the warped and blistered skeleton and at the same time preparations began for the official inquiry. Major Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chief of the air service. who came here by airpane yesterday as soon as word of the disaster was flashed to Washington, made per- sonal inspection of the wreck during the night and ordered an immediate 
 Cause Unknown.
 Officers at Langley field still were at loss to account for the mishap that caused the 40 foot craft to be- come manageable. Possibility de- vcloped, however, that the inquiry would take notice of reports that the oag of the Roma constructed, in Italy. vas rotten, although officers at the field declined to discuss such reports.
 In connection with nA forthcom- ng inquiry, these dsse1op4ents, some officers said, had been established lefinitely: First, that the left rud- Ter of the Roma gave waywhen she vas less than half a mile from where he went down near the army base ire station.
 Second, that there, was no fire on he ship unti. after the tilt began as result of the right hand side of the udder going into an almost vertical position.
 Third. that the craft became un- as she swooped over the ase reservation, narrowly missing & so foot smokestack of the Central Ieating plant.
 Fourth, that the immediate cause the explosion was contact with ct of 2,200 volt high power electric fires. less than 100 feet from where 1e Roma crashed into a. pile of ebris.
 Fifth, that the Liberty motors. -hich were being tested. were not ,sponsible for the disaster, unless ,mething more tangible should be armed than appeared today.
 The point which the army board of 'vestigation, which will be organ ed today will decide, is what caused ,e rudder supports to give way.
 Two Pilots in Charge.
 There were two pilots in charge Of le ships steering gear. They were aptain Walter J. Reed and Lieut.. K. Burt. both of whom had been at e wheels of the Roma on previous ips Burt was uninjured and Reed on the road to recovery from slight luries at the Public Health hospital, Charles Dworack, superintendent of instruction Of McCook field Dayton. , one of the passengers on the oma was in serious condition to- " at the Public Health hospital wing swallowed flames and is also ffering from the effects of gas mes. Other injured survivors are pected to recover.