Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27
Capt. WooIsey and Lieut..
Benton Are Victims OF
Collision in Midair.
SURVIVORS TO CONTINUE
PAN AMERICAN FLIGHT
New York Is Wrecked, Detroit
Burned-Parachutes Save
Lives of Two.
BY the Associated Pres.

BY the Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES, February 20
Death came today to two members OF
the United States Army Flight
Squadron lust at the end of the nrst
half of their goodwill visit to the
Americas.
Capt. Clinton r. Woolsey or Micni
gan, pilot of the Detroit ana the
squadrons maintenance officer ano
Lieut.. John w. Benton OF Caluornla'
the relief pilot and youngest OF the
sviators. were killed when the Ne"
York. the flagship Of the squadron
and the Detroit collided and crasheo
to earth.
Mai. Herbert A. Dargue, fhght
commander and pilot OF the New
York, and Lieut.. Ennis c. Whiteneao'
his relief pilot, jumped from their ma
chine and were landed by their para
chutes safely.
Wings Become Entangled.
Flving In close formation over the
Palomar Field, a few miles from
Buenos Aires. the Detroit slipped oo"n
upon the New York, when the sls na'
was given to break formation IoI
landing purposes. The wings OF tne
two planes became entangied ana tney
went into asspin together, the Detrol'
taking fire. The other two planes
the ST. Louis and San Francisco, pro-
ceeded to the landing place:
Mai. Dargue and Lieut.. Wnitenea1
succeeded in leaping from their piale
but. according to Capt. Eaker OF tne
San Francisco, Lieut.. Benton wa
thrown. free and was killed Dy tne
fall An early version had 1t tna'
Benton was burned to deatn MheA
the Detroit came down In names.
Mai Dargue announced lateI l.ia.
the flight would be continued oy tne
two undamaged machines. the fifth
ulane. the san Antonio, having only
reached ConuImbc, Chile. today.
The bodies OF the two airmen Were
taken TO an emergency hospital ano
later brought to Buenos Ares
Had just Been welcomed.
The accident happened only shor'
time after the aviators had landed ~
the harbor and had been greeted by
the mayor OF Buenos Aires IN tne
name of the city authorities. After
their reception they took snort rest
fefueled ana then started tor the
Palomar fiying field Tor the nlgnt'
ON Monday they were to start or
tha homeward leg to the north, tneii
nrst destination being Asuncion
Paraguay.
cant. Ira c. Eaker of the San Fran
cisco, who was in q position or az
vantage in the air, witnessed the col
lision of the Detroit and New YORK.
"We had Just flown in close forrna'
tion,p he said. The four planes
formed a diamond over the landing
field at Paloma, Mai. Dargue. plotting
the New York at the head OF the
squadron, signalled to the others the
breaking up of the formation for the
purpose Of landing.
"Capt. Woolsey, in the Detroit, IT
No. 3 position, and the New York, NO
2, turned out simultaneously, Wooise5
TO the left. Dargue to the right. Tnt
New York continued as did the 81
Louis. slightly higher and to the rear
'"The Detroit turned upward and
away from the New York severa
hundred feet, then turned back to the
right, and went into slight dive.
May Not Have Seen New York.
"At that instant Woolsey was above
the New York. and probably did not
zee It,, The Detroit started gentle
gliding turn slightly toward the New
York's left wing; the ships telescopet
and began a spin as one plane.
Every soon one parachute opened
ut an altitude of a thousand feet. A
second chute opened at about 50t
feet, only two jumped in the para
chutes. Another body fell free jus
before the planes struck the ground
''The collision occurred at abou