Waterbury, Ct. – March 24, 1929

Waterbury, Ct. – March 24, 1929 

      On March 24, 1929, Captain Arnold R. Rasmussen (33) took off from Brainard Field in Hartford flying a Connecticut National Guard airplane.  With him was a passenger, Francis H. Smith of Waterbury, Connecticut.   The aircraft was an open cockpit Consolidated O-17 bi-plane, Ser. No. 28-374.

     It was the captain’s custom to fly over his home in Waterbury and wave to his wife and family, and this day was no different.  As the plane passed overhead, Rasmussen’s family came outside, but then they watched in horror as the engine suddenly lost power and the aircraft came hurtling out of the sky.  Family members scattered as the plane came in nose first and slammed into the street less than fifty feet from their home.  Captain Rasmussen was killed instantly, and Smith was taken to Waterbury Hospital.      

     Captain Rasmussen was and experienced pilot.  He served with the regular army Air Corps during World War I, and at the time of his death was the adjutant of the 43rd Aviation Division, Connecticut National Guard.

Click here for more information and a photo of Capt. Rasmussen: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169160967/arnold-r-rasmussen

      Sources:  

     New York Times, “Connecticut Guard Pilot Dies in Crash Before Family”, March 25, 1929.

     The New Britain Herald, (Ct.), “Smith Can’t Talk With Broken Jaw – Rasmussen Plane crash Probe Halts Pending recovery”, March 26, 1929. 

     Aviation Safety Network 

 

 

Rutland, Vermont – June 24, 1934

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 

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