Mattapoisett, Massachusetts – May 12, 1942
On May 12, 1942, 2nd Lt. Clarence V. Jones was piloting an L-1 observation aircraft, (Ser. No. 40-276) on a patrol mission over the Buzzards Bay area of Cape Cod. At 1:30 p.m., he turned inland over the town of Mattapoisett. Shortly afterwards the plane’s engine began to run rough and the aircraft began to rapidly loose altitude. The aircraft dropped so low that it was headed straight for a private home, so Lt. Jones banked to the left to avoid crashing into it. He was hoping to make for an open area when the wing struck a telephone pole and wrecked the plane. The plane landed upside down, but there was no fire. Lt. Jones and his passenger, 2nd Lt. William E. Plumer escaped with minor injuries.
The men were assigned to the 101st Observation Squadron at Otis Field, In Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Source: U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Report Of Aircraft Accident, #42-5-12-6