Evening star., 1947-05-30
La Guardia Field
Crash Death Toll
Rises 10 39
Disuster Is Worst
In History Of u. S.
Commercial Aviution
BY The Assoeiofed Press

CIlS1IlCQ OIlLcQ All LILIES bS-4
plane failed to gain altitude on
a takeoff from La Guardia Field
last night during a heavy thun-
derstorm and crashed in flames,
killing 80 Of the 48 persons
aboard In the Nations worst
commercial airline disaster.
Thirty-eight were burned to death
at the crash site. Ten were taken
to hospitals. One Of these, young
man en- route to Cleveland for his
wedding. died early today.
Observers at the field, some OF
them relatives of the victims, said
the plane cleared the runway and
started climbing, then hurtled into
marshy ground beyond Grand Cen
trail parkway and burst into flames
that shot so feet or more into the
air. Exactly how high the plane
got was not known.
One of the dazed survivors was
Capt. Benton r. lucky Baldwin,
the pilot. When questioned by Vic
tor Levin, Queens County assistant
district attorney, the pilot told him
he tried to get the ship off the
ground. but nothing happened"
Relatives Gather at Hospital.
Thirty-eight of the bodies were
taken to Queens General Hospital
where DR., Thomas A. Gonzales, the
city's chief examiner, began efforts
to identify them.
A number of relatives of the VIC
Tins gathered at the hospital and
the chapel In the hospital mortuary
was placed at their disposal.
DR.. Gonzales indicated that so far
as was possible he would attempt to
identify the dead without requiring
any of the relatives to view the
badly burned bodies.
John A. Herlihy, vice president in
charge OF operations for United Air
lines, and several aides questioned
the pilot at the hospital but refused
TO make any statement Immediately.
Representatives of the Civil Aero
nsutics Administration also were
present preparatory to beginning an
inquiry.
Rain Impedes Rescuers.
First the fire, then heavy rain,
impeded rescuers who sought to de-
terrnine which of the passengers
were still alive and rush them to
hospitals. Thirty-seven were taken
dead from the plane and Another,
Stewardess Helena Klein Of New
York, was declared dead on arrival
at a hospital. The planes co-pilot,
r. E. Sands of Bayside, N. Y, was
among those killed. Miss Marjorie
Oldsen, another stewardess, was
injured.
Hundreds of spectators at La
Guardia Field, including relatives
Of the passengers, saw the fateful
takeoff of the plane. Minutes later,
Grand Central Parkway above the
crash site was lined with the curious,
watching the rescue work proceed
below them.
Three persons missed the plane
and possible death or injury in the
crash.
They failed to hear the field public
address system announcing the take
off, and were left behind.
Complained of Missing Plane.
They are Benjamin Droz, 48, of
Cleveland, an employe of the War
Assets Corp; Miss Anne Sullivan of
New York and Miss Lustig, whose
full name and address were not
Immediately obtainable.
Miss Sullivan was at the pas
senger desk complaining about miss
ing the plane, when the crash was
heard
When Mr.. Droz was informed
what had happened, his only COM
ment was:
Gee, I'm sure lucky"
Mr.. Levin said he talked to the
pilot before he was given sedatives
and isolated from visitors at Queens
General Hospital.
"He took off at 7 pm, Eastern
standard time, with a capacity
overall load of $4,000 pounds On
runway 18, which is Also feet long.
He claims this is the shortest run
way on the field Mr.. Levin said.
The plane should rise after trav-
cling from 2,500 to 5000 feet.
Plunged Through Fence.
"He said he tried to get it off
the ground, but nothing happened.
The plane continued through a wire
fence and across a highway and
crashed into a ravine on the other
side of the highway. The next
(See CRASH, Page A-3)