Evening star., 1959-06-30
u. 5. JET Hits
School, Killing
q in 0kinawa
Croft Veers After
Pilot Puruchutes
Following Blast

NAHA, Okinawa. June 80
(AP) "A pilotless United States
Air Force jet fighter hurtled
into the corner of an Okinawan
schoolhouse today. then sprayed
fiery fragments over a residen-
tial area.
A control center set up by
United States military authori-
ties said 81 persons were killed
and 100 injured. Rescue teams
were seeking more bodies.
1t was not yet known how
many of the dead were school
children.
All of the victims apparently
were Okinawans. Police said
that so of the less seriously in
jured were schoolchildren play
ing in the vicinity of the school.
80 Houses Set Afre
The blazing wreckage set fire
to 80 houses In the vicinity.
Thousands rushed hysteri-
cally to the scene after a local
broadcast that $50 had been
killed and 800 hurt. The mill
ing crowds hindered the re-
moval OF the injured to hospi-
tails by military ambulances.
It was one of the worst
military disasters since World
War II on Okinawa. biggest
United States base in the Far
East. There were immediate
political repercussions in To-
kyo. The Japanese Socialist
Party long critical Of American
administration Of the former
japanese island. said 1t would
bring the matter UP in parlia-
Iment.
1t. Gen. Robert w. Burns.
commander of the 5th Air
Force. expressed his deep per-
|sonal sympathy" for the VIC
tins and their families. He
planned to fly to Okinawa for
a personal investigation.
Pilot Chutes 10 Safety
An explosion occurred
aboard the F-l00 Super Sabre
Jet soon after it took of from
Kadena Air Base, eight miles
from Ishikawa, The pilot,
Capt. John G. Schmitt. jr.. OF
Chalmers, Ind. parachuted to
safety.
Capt. Richard Roussell Of
Lockport. La. an eyewitness,
said the empty plane headed
for an uninhabited hill. veered
sharply and finally crashed
into a corner Of the Miamori
elementary school. Shearing
of from the school building,
1t burst into a shower of fam
ing metal which scattered over
the file roofs of the surround
ing residential district.
The Air Force sent 10 hell
copters from Naha to help
evacuate the injured. Every
ambulance and available Air
Force medical corpsman hur-
ried to the scene. duty
servicemen Joined in combing
the wreckage for the dead and
injured.
Every effort is being made
to render all possible aid to
those injured or otherwise af-
fected by the tragic accident" !"
Gen. Burns said.
Commander Takes Charge
Brig. Gen. Dale Smith, COM
mander of the 3l3th Air Divi-
sion, took personal charge OF
rescue operations. An emer-
gency first aid station and q
morsue were set up in an un-
damaged part of the school
whose windows were shattered
by the crash.
After receiving first aid as
Of the injured. including many
children, were carried by Amer
ican helicopters to the Ryukyus
Army hospital.
/ AT the hospital an attendant
said, I'VE are taking blood
donations from everyone who
walks down the hall"
! The plane struck the roof OF
the schools sixth grade class
room where a class was in
progress. The teacher was hos
pitaliZed.
] Within minutes after the
crash. fire equipment was mov-
ing through the narrow streets
OF the city to the scene. A
long line OF village youths
formed a bucket brigade.
United States Marines from
a nearby camp clawed through
tiles and slabs of.roofing to get
at charred bodies.
MRT A. p "A "a