Evening star., 1953-03-22
ArLiner's Wreckaue
Studied for CIuesin
Crash Fatal 10 5
BY the Associated Press

4AiC O1OW, 81 411 Ccl0A VI 1OC1lU11y"
ing the bodies of IS air crash
victims continued into the night
as engineers studied wreckage in
the hope of learning what
caused the crash of a four-en-
gine plane late yesterday. No
one aboard survived.
Thirty of the dead were air
force men from Walker Air Force
Base at Roswell, N. NJ, en- route
to Korea. The others were the
plane crew, including two stew
ardesses.
The big TranSocean Air Lines
transport, operated on lease by
the Air Force, plunged into a
cabbage patch near Decoto. 20
miles south of Oakland, in a
light rain.
Visibility Was Poor.
The accident occurred about
$40 pm, just after the pilot
had been given landing instruc-
tions by Oakland Airport. The
plane reached the airport an
hour earlier, but because traffic
was heavy and visibility poor.
the tower assigned it to cruise
aloft until its landing turn
came.
The radio record contained no
hint that the plane was in any
danger that was known to the
pilot.
After receiving landing instruc-
tions the plane swooped SO low
over Decoto that it missed some
homes by little more than so
feet. Then as the engines
roared, the ship crashed in the
rain-soaked cabbage field.
There came an explosion that
shook nearby houses. Flames pill
Jared from the shattered wreck
age.
Identification Work Begun.
Some of the first to reach the
scene thought they could see
men move in what was left of
the rear structure. But all were
dead when taken from the plane.
AmbulanceS took the bodies to
nearby Parks Air Force Base,
where identification work began.
Members of the crew were
Harvey w. Rogers, IL, chief pilot
for Transocean Air Lines. a resi-
dent of Lafayette, Calf; Her.
man E. Hum. Al. pilot, DAILY City,
Calf; Fred w. Patchett, 81, CO.
pilot, Burlingame, Calf: Stew
ardess Thelma Sandige, 81, Oak
land, and Mrs. Franklin E. Chap
man of Ell PaSo, Tex, wife of
Standard Oil Co. executive, who
served as second StewardesS as
she few here for a visit.
Ice Falls From Plane.
William Silva, 81, OF Alvarado,
who lives near the crash scene,
said pieces of ice, some six inches
long and three to four inches
thick. fell from the plane as it
rocketed over his house. But
one investigator said this didn't
necessarily mean that icing of
the plane wings was responsible
for the crash. 1t was more apt to
indicate. he said. that the planes
de-icers were operating properly.
Sam Wilson, executive vice
president of Transocean, noting
that Mr.. Rogers was the COM
pany's chief pilot, said it was
Uncomfortable" that pilot error
was to blame. Switches for the
mo smoking" and "fasten seat
belt" warning signs were in the
ION" position, Mr.. Wilson said.
Walker Air Forces Base today
released this list of names of
alrmen who died in the crash:
AS Bernard !. Role. "a, Baltimore.
IS Isergt. Kenneth B. Shapiro. 90.
Ale Robert E. Hitchcock, %. Wheel
.aAIic james E. Mcclanahan. Norris
Alac Norman E. Wilson. 2l. East St..
&C ,Ammya B. Placker. 81. Alamo
.Al3c Joseph W, Madigan. 21. East
toA51 A51e olI Harold Malloy, 2a, New comers-
Ale, Weldon L. wichster. 90. West
&c Joseph L. Dobbs. 10. Stamford.
Acc Bennie C. Mabbitt, Sheldon, Ill.
,,,Ai2c Eldrdge j. Larkins, 90 Sheldon.
Ale. James c. Coomer, GLASGOW. KY.
\, s Sgt Robert P. Malady. 21, Newark.
A. lc William M Smart. %. Pamona.
eAI1c Troy Matlock. %. Mulsrow.
,A,2c Paul G. Moore, 81. Richmond
,,,Al@c GeorEe E. Blair. 20, Seattle.
nAI2c william C. Michael, 81. oakheld.
Abe Samuel J. Jordan 20. St. Angus.
Ale. Wayns A. johnson. 21, Kansa,
City, Mo
"A A &c Roman candelaria, 20, sandis
Arc Daniel Clinton, 90, Atwater
Ale william G. Cope, 20. BirminE
Abe Kenneth E. oliver, %, Miami
A &c Jasper W. Hall, Charleston, s. c
AI3c Robert. G. Rodgers, 1s, sar
s/sergt. Anthony Bush, Detroit.
AI1c Patrick A. Carini, 23, Fairport