Trumbull Connecticut Plane Crash | New England Aviation History

Trumbull, CT. – January 23, 1944

January 17, 2022

Trumbull, Connecticut – January 23, 1944

AT-11, U.S. Air Force Photo

On January 23, 1944, a U. S Army AT-11, Ser. No. 42-37184, was on a cross country training flight from Ellington Field in Texas, to New England. As the plane was passing over Connecticut it encountered thick clouds and crashed in the town of Trumbull, and both men aboard were killed.

The airmen were identified as 1st Lt. Rodney L. Stokes, (23), of Liberty, Missouri, and Sergeant Julius G. Skyberg, (26), of De Smet, South Dakota.

To see a photo of Lt. Stokes, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65489256/rodney-linden-stokes

To see a photo of Sgt. Skyberg, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39728382/julius-george-skyberg

Source:

The Waterbury Evening Democrat, “Plane crash At Trumbull Boosts State death Toll”, January 24, 1944, page 7.

Trumbull, CT – August 4, 1967

August 12, 2015

Trumbull, Connecticut – August 4, 1967

At 10:40 p.m. on August 4, 1967, a Cessna 182 with two couples aboard took off from Bridgeport Airport. (Igor Sikorsky Memorial Airport)

It is speculated that shortly after take off the plane’s engine began to malfunction based on two witnesses who told police they heard the engine sputtering just before the plane crashed off Porter’s Hill Road in the neighboring town of Trumbull. The crash occurred less than fifteen minutes after departure.

The plane came down in a wooded area about 250 yards from a development of private homes, and about 75 yards in from the roadway, and burst into flames.

Sources:

The Morning Record, “Four Killed In Trumbull Plane Crash”, August 5, 1967

New York Times, “Connecticut Crash Kills Four In Plane”, August 6, 1967