The Washington times., 1929-07-01
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from Old Orchard Beach. Me-. with
Amelia Earhart, had been recog.
nized as one Of the most efficient
pilots in the air.
Whitney's Plane
It was his handling of the giant
plane, Friendship, on the long trans
atlantic trek that drew the admira-
tion Of Miss Earhart and led her to
declare that virtually all of the
credit for the success Of the flight
should be given him.
Harwood, one of the passengers
was connected with the flying super
yisors' office at Roosevelt Field.
Mechanics at Roosevelt Field said
that the plane, a Waco Speedwing,
was the property Of John Hay Whit
nsy.
Stultz had never before been in
volyed in a serious accident. Since
his return after flying to Europe,
he has engaged in commercial fly
ing.
When the ship crashed the motor,
Instead of burying itself in the
ground, crashed back into the cock
pit. crushing the two passengers.
New Propeller
Only one reason could be assigned
for the crash by airport officials.
1t was pointed out that a new
propeller had just been fitted on
the plane and that this was the
first flight with the new prop"
It was probable the experts said,
the new prop" failed to give the
plane enough lift to fly with three
persons aboard.
A week ago Sunday Stultz had a
narrow escape from death in. a
Sikorsky amphibian. He had flown
to the Harvard. Yale boat races and
was returning alone when he ran
into dense fog. The plane emerged
from the fog near a rocky cliff-like
shore and only by banking sharply,
and landing Immediately, was Stultz
able to avoid crashing. One pontoon
was. ripped off the plane, but
Stultz escaped injury.
.5 ), Was 20 Years Old
Stultz was 20 and served with the
Air Corps of both the Army and
Navy in the war. He was asso-
ciated with Mrs. Frances Wilson
Grayson ID her first two attempts
to take-of for Europe, his name was
mentioned in connection with the
Byrd undertaking, but he finally
made the trip in the Fokker plane
Friendship with Miss Earhart and
Lou Gordon. sE
Stultz was awarded the Medal of
Honor by the international League
OF Aviators for the transatlantic
flight. He was the first pilot to loop
the loop with passengers in big
Sikorshy 12-passenger aInphibian
plane.
George Haven Putnam, backer,
selected him to fly the Friendship
ON the transatlantic flight. He dis
cIaimed any credit, saying, the hon.
Gordon.
This is the fifth serious airplane
crash in the New York district IN
the last 10 days.
NEW YORK, July / qN.s@.--
'"wilner Stultz's death lis a great
loss to aviation. He was one of
the most skillful pilots knew"
So declared Miss Amelia Earhart,
first woman transatlantic air pas
senger, in commenting this after
noon on the death Of Stultz and to
others in an airplane crash at
Roosevelt Field.
Stultz piloted Miss Earhart's
plane, the Friendship, on its flight
to London.
Miss Earhart was today appointed
assistant general traffic manager
Of the Trans.Continenta Air Trans.
port, Inc.
WILLIAMSBURG Pa. July 1
n.N.S.l.-To Mrs. John Shradel,
sister of Wilmer Stultz, who was
killed at Mineola, N. Y, in a plane
crash, today fell the task of giving
the news to Mrs. Clara Stultz, his
mother,
International News Service tele-
phoned the Stultz residence here
and on learning from Mrs. Stultz
that she had no word of her sons
fate, her daughter, Mrs. Shradel,
was called to. the phone and told
of the flier's death.
Mrs. Shradel took the blow like
q soldier. oh she sobbed..
Dead? Dead-I'll-I'u tell mother" ;"
Stultz, who brought fame to Blair
county when he participated in the
Transatlantic flight of the Friend.
ship, operated a flying field at
Tipton, near here. with Walter Hite.
Word of the flier's death spread
like wildfire through the little vii
lage where his mother and sister
make their homes. Townslnen re-
called the gala welcome given Stultz
and Miss Earhart when they came
here last year after their epic flight.