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Hallettsville Tribune WISCONSIN FLYER DIES IN SECOND HOPE PLANE CRASHRichard E. Jacques, 23, was the U. S. Army flyer who was killed in the second army plane crash near Hope last Wednesday night about 10:30. He was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a graduate of the University of Chicago, and was stationed at Foster Field at Victoria. He was finishing his advanced training there and was to have graduated soon. Jacques was flying alone when his plane seemed to suddenly nose-dive into a densely wooded area in the Terry Mathews pasture about five miles south of Hope – just six miles south of the recent crash that took six army flyers. The plane was [not] found until Thursday morning, along with the broken body of the pilot. An army plane from the Victoria base aided in the search for the wrecked pursuit ship. The plane was seen flying fairly low, just before the accident, by Mrs. W. B. Fitzhenry, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Higgans and others. According to them the plane seemed to be flying normally, but suddenly the motor stopped and the ship plummeted straight down. It landed directly on its nose, driving the engine back into the plane. The body of the flyer was crushed and he was no doubt killed instantly. [Indications] are that the pilot lost his way and ran out of gas. As he was flying low it is thought he was trying to find a landing place. |
Weimar Mercury TWO BROOKS FIELD FLYERS LOSE LIVES IN SUNDAY CRASHHarry J. Durr, 23, of Farmon, Ill., and Warren C. Price, 22, of Scipio, Okla., were killed Sunday night when their plane crashed on the Ragsdale ranch about 14 miles southeast of Hallettsville. A report of the crash ws phoned to Hallettsville and a searching party tried to locate the wrecked plane. A plane from Brooks Field was sent to aid in the search and finally spotted the wrecked plane, but due to dense brush, the ground searchers were unable to locate it. Late in the evening a phone call from a Mrs. Baker living on the Neuhaus ranch stated she had located the wreckage. She directed the searchers to the spot where the plane was found on the fence line between the Neuhaus and Ragsdale ranches. The bodies were sent to San Antonio. |
Weimar Mercury ARMY PLANES COLLIDE OVER HALLETTSVILLEThe citizens of Hallettsville witnessed a spectacular airplane accident last Friday as two planes collided in mid-air and crashed to the ground killing the pilot of one of the planes. Cadet James Q. Tingle, 20, of Neligh, Nebr., a student flyer, was being instructed in a dog fight in which three planes took part. Something happened and two of the planes collided. The instructor was able to parachute to safety, but the student flyer crashed with his plane and was killed. The wrecked planes landed on the Frank Henke farm about four miles south of Hallettsvile. The dead pilot's body was found amidst the twisted wreckage of his plane. Many people in Hallettsville witnessed the dog fight and were horrified to find that what they thought was pieces of paper dropping from the planes was actually parts of the planes. The planes were from Foster Field. |
Related Link
The Story of the Downed Flyers by Breana Kristek
WWII pilots who died in training accidents over Lavaca County, winner of Best Overall Entry by an Individual Student in the 2005 Texas History Presentation Project for Texas High School Students
Click on View Winners>2005 for link to downloadable PowerPoint presentation
Friends of the Governor's Mansion website
