New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-08-10
Lieutenants George Co.
veil and R. w. Wag-
gener Meet Death in
Accident Near San
Diego, California.
M achine Immediately
Bursts Into Flames-Fli-
ers We're Going to Oak
land Airport, Prepare
tory to Ocean Trip.

San Diego. CAL. Aug. 10 Up
Lieuts. George CoveH and r. W.
Waggener, U. S. NJ. who left San
Diego today in an airplane they
had entered In the Dole fight to
Honolulu were killed when the ship
crashed into Point Iona near San
Diego.
Bursts Into Flames
The airplane was destroyed less
than Is minutes after the fliers had
left for the Oakland, Cal. airport,
where they intended to take off Fri
day in the flight to Honolulu. The
plane burst into flames after it
struck Point Iona.
An orderly from the naval coaling
station at La Playa returned to his
station and reported both bodies had
been recovered.
From the position of the plane, it
was believed 1t had struck the west
bank Of the Point as the airmen
were trying to gain altitude.
Covell's Body Burned
Covell's body was found in the
cockpit and was charred beyond rec
ognition, Identification was made
from a wallet that was found in a
pocket of his coat. Waggener's body
later was recovered from the wreck
age and also was badly burned.
Waggener is believed to have tried
to jump clear of the plane as 1t fell.
but was caught in the wreckage.
The scene of the crash was at the
extreme end of Point Iona, a lizard
like, barren promontory rising 400
feet above and projecting several
miles out into the sea and forming
the land-locked bay of San Diego.
Fort Rosecrans reservation COW
crs practically the whole of the
outer portion of Point Iona. Ow-
ing to the armament located there
many parts are inaccessible and
heavy brush prevents access from
the sides.
Lieutenant Covell was born in
Ellis. Neb, March 1899, and joined
the aviation service Of the navy in
1925. He lived at Coronado. Calf,
and was married and had two chill
dren.
Lieutenant Waggener was a ma
tive of Warrington Fla, and was
IS years old. He made his home
at the officers quarters on North
Island. Waggener was not married.
but fellow officers said he was en-
gagged, although they do not know
the name Of his fiancee.
The low wing monoplane which
Covell and Waggener had planned
to fly on the San Francisco Homo
lulu flight was of a type entirely
different from any before seen here.
The plane was built by William D.
Tremaine, at Brea, Calf, whence
Covell and Waggener started for San
Diego last Saturday only to be
forced down near Escondido be-
cause of broken oil feed line. After
repairs had been made they con-
tinued their fight to San Diego.
landing here late in the day.
The plane differed from the usual
Hlonopldue III lHdI lne WlnQS swung
from the fuselage. In fact, the body
of the plane rested on the wings.
The plane had a wing spread of Al
feet six inches and was seven feet
wide. Seven fuel tanks, with ca
pacity of 645 gallons of gasoline and
35 gallons of oil were carried on the |
plane, which weighed two and one
half tons and had cruising speed |
of 100 miles an hour.
Had Number 10
San Francisco, Aug. 10 R-
Gloom spread over the f1iers as i
sembled here for the Dole air race
CONTINUED on Para 12l