Marblehead Massachusetts Plane Crash | New England Aviation History

Marblehead, Ma. – June 18, 1948

November 23, 2024

Marblehead, Massachusetts – June 18, 1948

At 6 a.m. on the morning of June 18, 1948, two men, Albert R. Haley, (28), and Melvin S. Hamson, (21), were flying an a single-engine, two-seat, aircraft over the town of Marblehead when they developed engine trouble attempted to make an emergency landing at a playground. As the plane was making its approach, it struck some powerlines and crashed onto the lawn of a private home on Green Street killing both occupants.

The plane had been purchased by one of the men just three weeks earlier. One source stated it was a Taylorcraft, the other a Piper Cub.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99842925/melvin-stone-hamson

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99842936/albert-robert-haley

Sources:

The Boston Herald, June 19, 1948, via www.findagrave.com

Unknown newspaper, “Two Mass. Men Burn To death In Plane Crash”, unknown date, via www.findagrave.com

Marblehead, MA – May 7, 1915

February 5, 2017

Marblehead, Massachusetts – May 7, 1915

On May 7, 1915, Aviator Clifford L. Webster, and a mechanic identified as “Carman”, were making a test flight over Marblehead of a Burgess airplane which had been built for Vincent Astor. While over the water of near Marblehead Neck the engine suddenly stopped and the plane crashed into a sea wall on the ocean side of the causeway that connected Marblehead Neck with the rest of the town. After striking the seawall, the aircraft continued on across the road where both men were pitched out. Webster suffered a broken arm. No injuries for the mechanic were reported.

Source: The Brattleboro Daily Reformer, (Brattleboro, VT.) “Aviator Was Badly Injured”, May 7, 1915, page 5