Rutland, Vermont – June 24, 1934
At about 11:30 a.m., on June 24, 1934, Captain H. H. Mills of the 118th Observation Squadron of the Connecticut National Guard was piloting a Douglas observation plane over the new municipal airfield in Rutland, Vermont, as part of the field’s dedication exercises.
At the same time, a Bellanca monoplane with two men aboard was also in the area on a photographic survey mission for the government.
For reason’s not determined, the two aircraft collided head-on at an altitude of 5,000 feet over the airport. The impact ejected Captain Mills from his aircraft and he found himself hurling through space dazed from an head wound. Fortunately he was able to release his parachute and land safely. His airplane came down in the center of the airport and was destroyed.
The Bellanca disintegrated as it came down, dropping its engine and two occupants before striking the ground on a farm about a mile from the airport. Both men were killed.
The dead were identified as W.H. McMullen, the pilot, and R.L. Oakes, the photographer. Both were from New York City.
Source: New York Times, “Two Die As Planes Crash at 5,000 Feet”, June 25, 1934