Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-12
EIGHTH FLYER DIES
AS PROBE is BEGUN
INTO PLANE CRASH

Continued From First Page.
a training flight. The plane in which
they made the trip and in which they
died was tri-motored Sistership of the
famous Question Mark, which establish
ed new world endurance record in
California this week. and of the plane
in which the late Floyd Bennett and
Comdr. Richard E. Byrd few over the
North Pole.
Capt Harry A. Dinger, who piloted
the plane on the flight to Middletown
and Sergt. Charles Maryland, pas
senger, were making the return trip to
this city in an amphibian plane and
had taken of Is minutes ahead of the
larger plane. Informed Of the crash
upon his arrival here late yesterday,
Capt. Dinger Immediately took off for
Middietown again.
Are Summoned Before Board.
Capt. Dinger and mechanics at the
Middletown Army Field, who worked on
the plane before it took off on the fatal
trip, are appearing today before the
board of Investigation. It is not expected,
however, that they will be able to throw
much light on the cause of the acc!-
dent.
Capt. F. F. Christine, acting conf
mandant Of the Middletown Field, &C.
cording to Associated Press dispatches,
stated the plane apparently was in per-
feet condition when Lieut.. Angel lifted
1t off the field His statement was based
IN the reports of mechanics who went
over the plane and motors after its ar
rival from Washington yesterday morn-
ing.
The plane crashed approximately q
mile from the Middletown field. As
far as could be determined today,
motor trouble developed and Lieut..
Angel, gliding down to forced land
ing, failed to clear a tree. on the edge
Of a vacant lot at Royalton, near Mid
dletown. A wing hit the tree cata-
putting the plane over the field three
times.
1t was necessary to cut part Of the
torn and twisted wheckage to release
Lieut.. Angel. Both arms and both
legs Of the officer were broken, and he
suffered head and internal injuries.
Regaining consciousness Tor a snort
time, he Is reported to have begged ms
rescuers to shoot him to end his suf-
fering. He died on the way to hospi-
tai. Kelly and Conroy are said to have
been the only others TO show signs OF
life when removed from the wreckage.
Kelly died soon after the crash and
Conroy fingered until this morning.
The broken and shattered tree and
furrowed field remained today as the
only evidence of the crash at Royalton
Every bit of the shattered debris was
removed soon after the crash by de-
tachment from the MiddletoWn Army
| station.
Angel Experienced With Plane.
| Although the tragedy has cast a pail
over Boiling Field, Army traditions were
! lived up to and operations were con-
/ Quoted as usual at the field today. Lieut.
Deyereux M Myers took of from Boiling
Field soon after 10 O'Clock this morn
| ing tor Middletown to assist Capt
Dingcr There was little other flying al
the local post aside from routine oper-
atoms.
Lieut.. Angel, the pilot, had had con-
siderable experience in the flying Of the
big transport plane and had previously
flown it on a number of trips from
Boiling Field to other Army posts ir
various parts Of the country.
Lieut.. Angel was born in Alabama
May "a, 1899, and enlisted In the avia.