The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1928-09-28

800.
Robert Moore, % year old avia-
tor of this city, met instant death
in an air plane crash at the new
Miles City airport Sunday even
John p Nockels, Billings flyer
who was plotting the plane met
the same fate. Both bodies were
terribly mutilated.
The tragic accident occurred
just after the close of the cere-
mony of dedication and program
of air contests that marked the
opening of the fine new field.
Moore, who was much better
known at home by the nick name
of Boob" was a student aviator
who had taken instruction at
Great Falls and completed his
course here under Jim Cook He
went to Miles City in company
with Cook and William Miller to
witness the events of the inter-
esting day. The journey was
made in the Travel Air bi-plane
owned by the local Air Ways
company.
Last Minute Invitation
Nockels was at the meet with
a Monocoupe, a small two-person
monoplane owned at Billings.
Boob" had become interested in
this make of ship when the Ford
reliability flight stopped at Froid.
The only woman in the party
flew Monocoupe His interest
in the machine was noted by the
Billings flyer.
The events of the afternoon
being over the three Wolf Point
boys were in an auto ready to go
to the city. They had even start
ed the motor when Nockels land
ed his plane near them and way-
ing a signal shouted an invitation
to Moore to take a ride. Boob
instantly accepted as it would af-
ford the opportunity of close up
demonstration With Nockels at
the controls the plane took off
while Cook and Miller waited for
their companions return, expect
ing the ride would be short as
darkness was already approach
ing.
Fatal Zoom
When scarcely a mile from the
take-off the little plane was seen
to zoom upward then falter and
fall into a nose dive from a
height variously estimated at
from 200 to 500 feet. 1t struck
with such force that it's head
made deep depression in the
hard earth. The plane was re-
duced to crumpled mass of me-
tai and wood. Moore and Nockels,
sitting closely abreast in the tiny
cockpit were crushed to a mere
semblance of human beings. An
identification slip was found in a
pocket Of "Boob's clothing The
plane did not catch fire.
A Miles City plane that was
still in the air and several cars,
including the one occupied by
Cook and Miller, reached the
scene as quickly as possible. Ex-
tricating the body of Nockels was
a difficult task. Moore's body
was found outside the wreckage,
face downward, where it had been
hurled from the cockpit The
bodies were taken to an under
takers.
Clock Records Time
The clock in the plane cabin had
stopped at 5:36 The news
Wolf Point by phone at
about 700 o'clock when Jim Cook
called his father. A little later
Lee Jenkins, well known here,
Dhoned the details, as far as
Known to c. L. Marshall. The
lews was heavy shock and the
cause of deep sorrow to all Mr..
md Mrs. o. T. Stennes carried
he sad message to Mrs. Mary
Moore, Roberts mother Other
riends called on her also An eff
ort was also made to reach R. j.
Moore, his father, at Great Falls.
The message reached him later in
he evening and he at once start
ID for Wolf Point by motor and
Lrrived Tuesday.
Brought Home
Plans were arranged as rapidly
IS possible and at midnight l.. M.
layton, local undertaken, started
or Miles City accompanied by
lloyd and Harvey Montgomery.
The next morning Ray Kelberer
tarted with a truck suitable for
ringing home the remains. They
at midnight Monday.
c. O. Moore, brother OF Robert
Turn to page s. column 4, please)