Historic Massachusetts Aviation Accident | New England Aviation History

Westborough, MA – October 29, 1933

January 29, 2016

Westborough, Massachusetts – October 29, 1933

On October 29, 1933, a passenger plane with four people aboard took off from Westborough Airport (a.k.a. Westboro Airport) bound for Worcester. Shortly after take off the plane went into a steep dive during which a large piece of wing fabric was ripped away. The plane crashed within inches of a farm house, and all aboard were killed. There were no injuries to anyone on the ground.

The dead were identified as: Oliver H. Walton, 34, and his wife Ruth, 34, both of Needham, Mass.; Clarence E. heath, 25, of Dedham, Mass.; and George F. Chapman, 35, of Walpole, Mass.

Westboro Airport closed in the 1970s.

Sources: Nashua Telegraph, “Four Die In Massachusetts Plane Crash”, October 31, 1933. (Photo of wreck.)

The Lewiston Daily Sun, “Four Killed In Plane Crash At Westboro, Mass.” October 30, 1933

Saugus, MA – June 6, 1918

January 22, 2016

Saugus, Massachusetts – June 6, 1918

On June 6, 1918, U.S. Army Lieutenant Torrey H. Webb was piloting a Curtis JN-4H “Jenny” airplane, (#39366) from New York to Franklin Field, (a.k.a. Atwood Field) in Saugus, Massachusetts. The purpose of the flight was to deliver sacks of mail containing 4,400 letters, weighing 228 pounds.

It was reported that this flight marked the first New York to Boston aerial mail service.

Lt. Webb made the historic trip in three hours and twenty-two minutes by following the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad tracks. While en-route his compass developed a malfunction, so he landed briefly at Shailerville, Connecticut, a village within the town of Haddam, to make repairs. After adjusting the compass, Webb took off again for Saugus. Upon landing at Saugus, the wheels of his aircraft sank into soft ground causing the plane to abruptly nose over and toss Webb and his mechanic, Raymond Heck, from their seats. Neither was injured. The aircraft was sufficiently damaged to prevent an immediate return to the air.

The mail was taken to Boston by automobile.

A photograph of this accident can be seen at Digital Commonwealth. (Click on site below)

http://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/6682z638q

1918 Hamilton Watch Advertisement mentioning Torrey Webb as one of the aviators who wore a Hamilton watch.

Sources:

(Norwich CT.) Norwich Bulletin, “First New York – Boston Airplane Mail Service”, June 7, 1918

The Sun, (New York), “Plane With Boston Mail Damaged When It Lands”, June 7, 1918