Evening star., 1937-12-02
SIGHT PARACHUTE
NEAR CRASH SCENE
Ground Parties Report Re-
wives Hopes for Survival
of D. c. FLYER.

Sighting of a parachute about 3
mile inland from the scene of last
nights naval airplane crash Just of
Virginia Beach gave hope today that
at least one of two Navy flyers, one a
resident Of Washington, survived the
accident.
A report that flares had been seen
early today above a msrshy area in
land of the crash scene sent ground
parties into the swamps. At IL am,
report reached the naval base at
Norfolk that ground parties had
sighted parachute on the shore of
Fresh Pond, about a mile from the
place where the airplane crashed into
the surf. Working parties were strug-
Cling toward the spot.
The missing men are Aviation Cadet
James J. Jones, 26, son of Judge
George P. Jones, Special Assistant At
torney General, who lives at the
Broadmoor, 1901 Connecticut avenue
NV, and Troy Blanton, machinists'
mate. of Lafayette, Ala.
After night of searching and drag
ging in the vicinity of the crash. just
off Virginia Beach, a combined air,
sea and land search was begun at
dawn. The search ashore was started
shortly after 8 am today, according
to an Associated Press dispatch from
Norfolk, after a resident of Virginia
Beach reported to the naval base that
he had seen a series of rockets fired
from the marsh at $50 am.
Planes Aid in Search.
Several trucks loaded with search
ers left the base and joined civilian
parties at the marsh. Three Navy
airplanes were assigned to aid in the
search of shore and water areas.
Credence was given to the rocket re-
port at the Navy Department, which
explained that Very pistols are part
of the equipment of all Navy air.
planes on night flights and that
frequently pilots carry the pistols
strapped to their bodies.
One wing and part of the fuselage
of the scouting plane washed ashore
shortly after the forced landing at
about 7 o'clock yesterday evening, and
other sections of the airplane were
cast ashore by breakers during the
night. The occupants wore life jack
cts which would have kept them afioat
indefinitely.
Cadet Jones and Machinists' Mate
Blanton were flying as part of for
nation sent out for night training
from Bombing Squadron S, attached
to the U. S. S. Yorktown, new Navy
airplane carrier, now at the Norfolk
Navy Yard.
It is believed Cadet Jones was forced
out OF the formation by engine trouble
at about $50 pm. Residents of the
Virginia Beach area reported hearing
an airplane. apparently with motor
trouble, and several eyewitnesses of
the forced landing gave conflicting
testimony as to the probable distance
from shore Of the landing. Because
Of the short interval between the
crash and the beaching of wreckage
however, Navy officers believed the
landing was made Just outside the
breakers.
Cadet Jones began his Navy train
ing at the Anacostia Naval Air Station
here about IA months ago. After
month of elimination" training
here he was sent to Pensacola, Fla.
for q year Of flight and ground train
ing. He then was assigned to the
Yorktown for active duty.
Cadet Jones starred in football and
basket ball at the University Of Mon
tana from 1881 to 1888. He later at
tended North Dakota State College.
leaving there about two years ago to
take post here in the Treasury De-
partment. He resigned to enlist in
naval aviation last year.
The missing cadets father was
notified Of the accident by telegraph
last night at Springfield, ILL.,, where
he has been engaged for several weeks
as representative Of the Justice De-
partment in pending coal case. He
was expected to arrive in Washington
today.
Cadet Jones' brother John was
taken to Norfolk today in a Navy
airplane from the Anacostia Naval Air
Station to aid in the search.