Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-07-02
PLANE CRASH
IS FATAL TO
1t. JOHNSON
Officer, From Texas,
Falls After Mix-Up
In Air; Lindy Ar
rival Saddened

OTTAWA. uly tPi--Tragedy
marked the arrival here this after
noon Of Colonel Charles A. Lind
bergh TO attend the Canadian Dia-
inond Jubilee celebration when one -
the airmen accompanying him fell ~
his death.
II was while the squadron was
circling over the field that the plane
driven BY Lieutenant e.. Thad John
son crashed. There was great con-
fusion around the flying field, and IA
was some moments before Il was es-
tablished that the pilot had been
killed.
According TO the aviator in the
plane Immediately behind III. John
son. the lAtttr's machine which had
been circlinE with the others over
the field. dipped suddenly as though
preparing to land However instead
of continuing downward II rose in
/ squadron formation.
The pilot bChini, not anticipating
this ran into J0hnsOns plane, forcing
the tail violently upward. The ma
chine Immediately went into a nose
dive. IN a height W only about TOO
feet.
Lieutenant Johnson swung himself
clear, but there was not time for his
parachute To open befuIe his body
struck the ground.
Lieutenant Johnsoa, attached ID
the first pursuit squadron III self
ridge Field. Detroit, was the only
occupant "a the plane. lie j. under
stood 10 have been resident W
\ Texas, but officials here were unable
10 name his home town.
Col. Lbndbcrgh and his escort W
twelve United States army airp.ancs
arrived over the Canadian capital az
s:I3 p. ~. today. Flying IN front
Of his escort. the American trans
Atlantic flicr swept grace fully over
the city and circlei the parliament
Y AIRY victory tower.
Colonel Lindbcrgh. Tho had al-
ready landed An his trans-Atlat4tic
plane spirit Of st. Louis" went 10
the spot and viewed the wrerkRRr
before taking his place at the head
Of the procession which was formed
To escort him % the capital.
His famous smile was replaced by
an expression or sadness. which was
reflected over the entire crowd Of
thousands of people who witnessed
the accident. All the other planes,
which had escorted Lindbergh from
Selfridge Field. Detroit landed safe
\ Is.
Lieutenant JOhnson'S plane was
stated ~ have been thrown out Of
control hy a collision with the plane
Immediately following him. when
he suddenly changed his position i'm
the formation.
While Lieutenant Johnson's body
wis being taken from the field to
the city In an ambulance mounted
police and military units drew n
and with difficulty held back the
crowds which surged toward the
scnra of the tragedy.
Nj The American officer made a gal
liant effort "a save his life when his
plane began 10 fall. Spectators said
that when he had shaken himself
clear Of his plane. he could be- seen
turning in the air as W trying tc
hasten the opening Of his parachute.
He was dead when the nearest spec
tator reached him.
WASHINGTON. y. r.. July 2.--tP,
lieutenant q. Thad Johnson, one
Of the Selfridge Field. Michigan. pi-
lots. had served for nearly ten years
nthe army air service.
W He began IN the original mir SER
vice. when IL was a branch OF the
signal corps. enIisting in August or
v 1917. Hc was commissioned a first
lieutenant i'm July of 1920. and since
then has served at various air sta
tions. lie was born in Texas In July
1893.
War department records give only
the name or his wife, Edith NayIor.
deceased. whose home was nc Black
4 well, Oklahoma.
Colonel LindberEh who flew hia
trans Atlantic plane THE Spirit nf
1 st. Louis" from -. Louis. stopping
over night IL SeIfridge Fseld. Detroit.
came to Ottawa at the invitation of
the ranadiaH government 10 attend
the celebration of the Diamond Dr.
I biee of the canadinn Federation.
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