Smyrna times., 1935-10-24
$4,000 HANGAR
BY FIRE
Air Service WOrkmen Roll
Ships Worth S150,000 to
Safety at New Castle
CALL z FIRE COMPANIES

Fire Ieveled the $4,000 hanger
and repair shop of the Air Service
Inc, operators of Bellanca Field,
near New Castle, Thursday morn
ing. The hangar, owned by the
Bellanca Aircraft Corporation, was
insured. Planes valued at between
10000 and 100000 were rolled
out to safety after the fire was dis
covered. Officials of the Bellanca
Corporation, which leased the
burned building to Air Service,
said that decision upon rebuilding
would not be made until the board
of directors of the company meet
in the near future. Origin of the
blaze was still undetermined late
last week Damage besides the
hangar itself, included a $1,000 air
plane motor on blocks, which could
not be gotten out before the blaze
spread to the airplane machine
shop; tools. clothing, general equip
ment and half dozen valuable silk
.parachutes. Courageous work on
the part Of George Neal, 18-year-
old Wilmington boy, was largely
responsible for the saving of the
airplanes hangared in the building,
according to Jerry Litel, general
foreman of the Air Service. Neal,
who discovering smoke about 815
a. m, upon reporting for work,
seized fire extinguishers, called the
alarm to other mechanics, and be-
gan to fight the spreading flames.
Neal fought the flames with ex-
tinguishers while Mr. Litel, John
Hackendorf and John Benedict
worked desperately to push the
dozen airplanes valued at nearly
100000 from the burning hangar.
That they succeeded was due to
Meals standing his ground, despite
scorched face and hands and singed
hair, Mr.. Litel, said. In the mean
time Miss Frances Rees, of the
Bellanca Aircraft Corporations
office, had telephoned the alarm,
and companies from New Castle.
nearby towns and Wilmington re-
spopnded. They arrived in time to
avert danger of explosion of gaso-
line and oil within the hangar. E.
Paul duPont's plane, with motor
rom oxto1 t1ro @ oy, bIooLo ,.yhov, Nroo1
discovered the fire. After the
planes with landing wheels had
been rolled out of the hangar to
safety, the crew of Air Service got
under this pplane, and removed it
bodily, but not before the wing
covering burned, leaving charred
framework. Firemen fought the
blaze by laying hose 5000 feet to
the Bellanca Aircraft Corporations
hydrants across the landing field |
They were unsuccessful in using a
well closer to the hangar. Among
the planes saved was a cabin plane,
valued at S23 1000, recently deliver
ed to R. r. M. Carpenter. Another
plane saved was that owned by
Mr.. Carpenters daughter, Miss
Louisa dA. Carpenter. Mr.. Rich
ard Dorsey Morgan, president of
the Air Service, had several planes
in the hangar. Others are owned |
by Luther Rogers, electrical engi- |
neer, and j. M. Eckerd, of Erie,
Pa; Champ Taliaferro, commercial
airplane pilot. Among the proper
ty lost in the fire were personal |
belongings of Litel, including a
suit, a gold watch and considerable
tools. An official of the Bellanca
Aircraft Corporation said the
hangar was valued at $4,000 and
was constructed about eight years
ago. Among the companies at the
fire were: Wilmington Engine Co.
No. z; Minquadale. Holloway Terr-
ace, Cranston Heights, Five Points,