Saugus Aircraft Accident | New England Aviation History

Saugus, MA -October 21, 1915

January 23, 2016

Saugus, Massachusetts – October 21, 1915

On October 21, 1915, Capt. Charles P. Redding of Melrose, Mass., and his mechanic, Phillip Bowman, of Malden, Mass., left Marblehead, Mass. in a Burgess biplane bound for Saugus Aviation Field.

The duo landed successfully, and later in the day took off again for a flight over Lynn, Massachusetts. On their way back to Saugus Field, the plane crashed into a pool of water in the marshes of Saugus.

Charles Upham, a witness to the crash, made his way to the wrecked airplane and found both men still alive, however, they died within ten minutes.

Source:

(Vermont) The Bare Daily Times, October 22, 1915, Page 3.

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