Seekonk, Massachusetts – June 12, 1939
In the early morning hours of June 12, 1939, three young male friends were drinking in a tavern in Seekonk. They left the tavern around 3 a.m. and drove to the Providence Airport, which was located in Seekonk. Their intent was to take an airplane for a “joy ride”.
They broke into one of the hangars where two Aeronca airplanes were being stored, and pushed one of the planes outside, but couldn’t get it to start. They then pushed the second plane from the hangar. As two of the men sat in the aircraft, the third spun the propeller and the engine roared to life with the throttle wide open. The plane then immediately propelled itself across the field and crashed head-on into the other plane that had failed to start. Both planes were then pushed into a gas tank but there was no fire.
The sound of the crash awakened nearby residents, and the three men fled the airport.
State police arrived and began their investigation. Within a short time they’d arrested a 21-year-old Rehoboth man who was presently under investigation for a similar incident which had occurred in March at Hillsgrove Airport in Rhode Island. The arrestee confessed to the crime and gave police the names of his two companions.
Unfortunately for the owner of the two planes, neither was insured. Each plane was valued at $1,000.
Source:
Evening Bulletin, (RI), “2 Held In Plane Crash Escapade”, June 12, 1939, pg. 7. (With photo)
