Oxford, Massachusetts – October 21, 1928
On the evening of October 21, 1928, a 27-year-old pilot and his 24- year-old passenger, both from Webster, Massachusetts, were flying in an American Eagle airplane in the area of the Oxford Airport. At one point the aircraft dove towards the landing field before pulling up and rising to an altitude of 200 feet. At that point the right wing suddenly crumpled and the plane crashed back to the field. Both men aboard perished instantly. At their funeral a group of airplanes reportedly flew overhead dropping flowers.
The Oxford Airport no longer exists.
In November of 1995, photos of the two men as well as a photograph of the wreck were donated to the Webster Historical Society.
Sources:
Putnam Patriot, (Putnam, Ct.), “Flyers Killed At Oxford Airport”, October 25, 1929.
The Times, (Webster, Mass.), “Photos Recall Distant Tragedy, Webster’s First Pilot Died In Oxford Crash”, By Wendy Kirkland, November 8, 1995
