New Britain herald., 1927-04-26

afternoon.
 Newport News, Va, April oe Op- Lieutenant Commander Noel Davis and Lieutenant s. II. Wooster, naval aviators, were killed today in a forced landing of the giant biplane American Legion" in which they planned 10 attempt nonstop New York to Paris flight.
 They were over Messick, Va, on the last of the test flights planned for the big craft before 1t was taken to New York for the proposed trans Atlantic dash for the Orteig prize of s25, 900.
 The giant three-m motored plane, with a load of 17,oo0 pounds. landed in mud marsh near Messick. bury ing her nos" in several feet of water,
 Stories of CraS', Diner
 Accounts of the accident differed. Colonel C. C. Culver. commandin: Langley field said the plane was making a perfect landing when 1t struck the mud. with its engines sil- encel. but w. r. Forrest, a Messicl< fish 1rnan. an eyewitness. declared the machine was at d low altitude when 1t seemed to go into nose dive
 Reports at Langley field were that the American Legion was not badly damaged but word from Messick was that it was a complete wreck
 H.a':hlS Were Drowned
 The bodies of the two f1iers were ta r-. U t-o naval hospital at Ports mouth by scaplane. IL was believed they were drowned before they could eNtricate themselves from the cock pit,
 Before the machine took off for Its final test Commander Davis said he might have some trouble in get ting into the air with the heavy load but expected no difficulty in manag- ing the plane once 1t got up.
 The craft rose high and straight ened out for the crosscountry trip. IL moved along slowly under the staggering impost and suddenly ap- peared to develop engine trouble.
 Made Nice Landing
 Colonel Sulver said the airmen brought the craft toward the earth and made q nice landing. but came down in the marsh and as the ma chine started through the water her nose was buried and the craft turned completely over
 Forrest said he was standing so close 10 where the American Lc- zion buried herself that he was forced to jump to escape being crushed. He said he saw the craft moving slowly at q low altitude and then go into q nose dive, the nose hurrowing itself deep in the quag- mire
 Cockpit Flooded
 The central engine was buried several feet and the cockpit in which the airmen were trapped was completely flooded. An investi- gation was started soon after the accident by army and navy au- thorities.
 Airplaues from Langley field which were in tho air at the time sped to the disabled craft whiie rowhoats set out from the air sta ton and from Mcssick. Torres, tried to get the ajrmcn out of Inc wreckage, but made little headwav and. although the rescue parties reached the scene in few min- utes, both niers were dead when eNtricated.
 Parties from Langley field i'm. mcdiatcly set about removing ma- chine from the marsh 10 determine the extent of its damage.
 Mother Is Notified
 Salt Lake City. April 36 tps- First information of inc death of her son, Commander Noel Davis. in crash of lis airplanc at MeSsit,N, Va. today was conveyed to his mother, Mrs. Lena E. Price of Oakley, Idaho. hy telephone by the Associated Press. Mrs, Price hves with her husband, J. E. Price on q ranch short distance from Oak ley, l50 miles northwest of this city.