New Haven, Connecticut – June 9, 1918
On June 9, 1918, a flight of six U.S. Army two-passenger airplanes left Mineola, Long Island, New York, on a practice flight over Long Island Sound and Connecticut. The planes flew to New Haven, where the first five landed safely on a field near the Yale Bowl. As the sixth aircraft was coming in to land it crashed into a tree causing moderate damage to the plane. The occupants, both lieutenants, (one identified as R. W. Williams), were not injured.
After a short stay, the other five planes left to return to Long Island. The two lieutenants had to return by train. Arrangements were made to dismantle the airplane and bring it back to new York.
Source:
Hartford Courant, (Conn.), “Airplane Strikes Tree In New Haven”, June 10, 1918