Shirley, Massachusetts – January 30, 1957
De Havilland L-20 Beaver
U. S. Army Photo
On January 30, 1957, a U.S. Army de Havilland Canada L-20A “Beaver” aircraft with three servicemen aboard was making its final approach to land at Fort Devens when it crashed about 1.5 miles from the airfield. The aircraft came down in a dense wooded area north of Rt. 2A near Kittredge Road in the town of Shirley.
Two of the men aboard perished in the accident. They were identified as:
Captain Clifford D. Tresidder, 26, of Minnesota. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120079757/clifford-d-tresidder
1st Lieutenant Richard B. Collett, 24, of Pennsylvania. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61190970/richard-bartholemew-collett
The third man aboard suffered burns and a broken collar bone and was transported to Fort Devens Hospital. He later recovered from his injuries.
At the time of the accident the aircraft was taking part in training exercises.
Sources:
The Public Spirit, (Ayer, Mass.), “Military Services For Army Crash Victims”, February 7, 1957.
www.findagrave.com
Aviation Safety Network https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/168124
