Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-24
ARMY FLYER DIES
AS PLANE CRASHES
Death Near Dickerson Being
Probed by Official
Board Here.

The crash of an Army pursuit plane
at Dickerson, Md, which cost the life
of Lieut.. william B. Clements, Army
Air Corps Reserves, on duty at Self
ridge Field, Mich, just before the vio-
lent electrical storm yesterday after
neon, is under investigation today by
board of four Air Corps officers ap-
pointed at Boiling Field by Maj. How
ard c. Davidson, commandment.
Lieut.. Clements was instantly killed
when his plane crashed in a clearing
on the outskirts of Dickerson as he
was attempting forced landing after
his motor failed. His body was
Brought to Washington last night and
s being held here pending receipt OF
word from his father, Robert S. Glenn
ents of Durand, Ca, as to funeral
arrangements.
Was Engaged In Maneuyers.
For nearly a week Lieut.. Clements
had been engaged in anti-aircraft
maneuvers now in progress at Fort
Humphreys. Va, with temporary sta
ton at Boiling Field. He was on his
way from Boiling Field to the Air
Corps depot at Middletown, Pa, when
motor trouble developed and the crash
occurred
The board Of inquiry. appointed at
Boiling Field this morning, Is COM
posed of Maj. Louis M. Field, Boiling
Field hight surgeon, and Lieuts. Ho-
bart r. Yeager. Malcolm s. Lawton
and Louis M. Merrick.
Preliminary reports indicated that
the electrical storm had nothing to do
with the crash. but that Lieut.. Clements,
nH HHfac a ~
ing place when his motor failed. prob
ably because of a faulty oil line.
The plane circled once over Dicker-
son at low altitude, when the motor
failed entirely and Lieut.. Clements
dove steeply for the little clearing. He
passed within few feet of the store
house of Lloyd Jones, proprietor of a
feed store at Dickerson, and plowed
into the field beyond.
He was dead when Jones, Richard
Cromwell, Pliny p. Day and Days son,
from the wreckage' and dragged the
body out. The body was placed beside
the plane and police officials of Fred
erick, Md. were notified.
Some time after the crash fire broke
out In the wreckage, soaked with gaso-
line from the shattered tanks. The
Days, father and son, dragged the
pilots body away from the fire, the
father burning his hands in the at
tempt. The fire is believed by Air
Corps officers to have been caused by
someone tossing a cigarette into the
wreckage, as Lieut.. Clements had cut
his ignition before the crash and the
motor had plenty of time to cool of
before the fire started, Is to IS minutes
after the crash.
Had Engine Trouble.
Records found on the body of Lieut..
Clements show that he had been having
engine and fabrication trouble since
September 20. He was on his way to
Middletown for a motor overhaul prior
to returning to Selfridge Field with the
five other planes Of the flight. which
came here to participate in the anti-air-
craft tests. These tests are to be con-
cluded tomorrow night.
Lieut.. Clements, a native Of Durand,
Ga, was graduated from the Air Corps
Advanced Flying School, Kelly Field,
Tex, in June, 1880, and was commits
stoned second lieutenant in the Air
Corps Reserve. He had since been on
active duty, first at Maxwell Field
Montgomery, Ala, and, since April 10,
at Selfridge Field.
Lieut.. Clements participated, as a
pilot of the LIST Pursuit Group, in the
mass maneuvers of the Army Air Corps
last May, in which $40 planes we're as
Ssmbled, and in the National Air Races,
ending on Labor day at Cleveland, Ohio