Evening star., 1933-03-20

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thrown clear Of the wreckage instantly
killed by the impact. His father and
Maj Parker, also believed to have been
killed instantly. were badly burned be-
fore their bodies were dragged out by
passing motorists.
Left Washington Friday.
The three officers left Washington
Friday afternoon and had spent the
week end at Spartanburg, taking of on
the return trip in the face of thick
weather yesterday afternoon 1t is be-
lieved that Lieut.. Willis, finding the
weather too thick to continue with
safety, was attempting to land beside
the highway when he crashed, possibly
while blinded by the storm.
Detective Sergt. Hoyle D. Secrest In
charge Of clerical work at the Detec-
tive Bureau, escaped being in the crash
only through a last moment decision
friend and first cousin of SecreSt's wife.
Secrest had been invited to 90 as far
as Charlotte. N. c., his former home.
Lieut.. Willis. 80 years old. was .
graduate Of the United States Military
Academy, West Point. and of the Air
Corps Primary and Advanced Flying
Schools. He had been on continuous
flying duty at Boiling Field for the past
four years except for a short time of
duty as WI .te House aide. which ended
with the Change Of administration on
March f. In his capacity as assistant
operations oficer at the local field. he
took charge of the operations of flying
officers of the local Army Air Reserve
Maj. Willis and Maj. Parker were old
friends and for several years had been
colleagues in service in the office Of the
Judge Advocate General.
Graduate Of West Point
Lieut.. Willis was a native Of Willis
ton, S. c., and was graduated from
West Point, June II. 1926. He was COM
missioned a second lieutenant Of In
fantry, but was transferred to the Air
Corps in 1929 after graduating from
the advanced flying school. Since that
time he has been stationed at Boiling
Field.
His father, Mai. willis, IS years old
was born at Barnwell, S. C.. A veteran
of the Spanish War. Maj.
Willis served as a lieutenant in the
South Carolina Infantry during that
conflict. Since then he practiced law
until 1917, when he attended the first
Onicers' Training Camp and was COM
missioned a captain of Infantry in the
National Army. He served with the
323d Infantry, both at home and over
seas, rising to the rank OF lieutenant
colonel On July l, 1920, he was
permanently commissioned a major In
the Judge advocate generals depart
ment Since then his service has been
divided between Washington and San
Antonio, Tex. He had returned to
Washington from San Antonio, where
he had been detailed as Judge advocate
of the 9th Corps Area
Maj. Willis is survived by his wife
and daughter, Miss Margaret Willis.
Mai. Parker's Record.
Mai. Willis is survived by his widow
County, N. c., November %, 1877. His
early military service was as a captain
of infantry in the North Carolina Ma
tional Guard from 1909 to 1917. When
the United States entered the World
War he was commissioned q captain
of infantry in the National Army. A
year later he was transferred to the
field artillery with the rank Of major,
and on July /. 1920, was given perma-
nent rank in the Regular Army as a
major in the Judge advocate generals
department.
Since the war Maj. Parker has been
on duty In Washington, at Fort Ben
ming. Ga, and in the Panama Canal
Zone. He came here from Panama
last Summer. He Is survived by his
widow.