Douglas, MA. – August 17, 1924

November 30, 2025

Douglas, Massachusetts – August 17, 1924

     On the afternoon of August 17, 1924, Lieutenant H. I. Wells, was piloting an army stunt plane over Beacon Park in Webster when the engine suddenly stopped as oil sprayed from it onto the wings of his bi-plane.  Thousands of spectators were on the ground watching the exhibition at the time.  Choosing not to ditch in the lake bordering the park, he opted to make an emergency landing in an open field near the East Douglas Cemetery.  He landed safely, and repairs were attempted to the engine, but it still wouldn’t start, so the wings were removed and the plane was taken away by trucks. 

      Source: Webster Evening Times, (Ma.), “Aviator Has Close Call From Serious Accident”, August 18, 1924  

Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: , , ,

Webster, MA. – June 3, 1950

October 18, 2023

Webster, Massachusetts – June 3, 1950   

U.S. Navy Grumman Avenger
U.S. Navy Photo

     On the evening of June 3, 1950, Lieutenant Commander Gregory T. McLean, (28), took off from Anacostia Field in Washington, D. C., bound for Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island.  The aircraft was described in the newspapers as a “three-seater torpedo bomber”, which may indicate he was piloting a TBM Avenger.  While in-route Lt. Cmdr. Mclean and his aircraft disappeared.  A widespread search was instituted spanning the east coast and New England.  The search included more than 100 aircraft as well as numerous maritime vessels. 

     The following day the body of Lt. Cmdr. McLean was found in the wreckage of his aircraft which had gone down in a thickly wooded area of Webster, Massachusetts.  The cause of the crash is unknown.        

     Source:

     The Boston Globe, “Navy Pilot Dies As Bomber Crashes Into Webster Woods”, June 5, 1950, Pg. 15.  Article supplied by Eric Wiberg, author and historian. 

Filed Under: Massachusetts - Military Tagged With: , , , ,

Webster, MA. – April 30, 1929

January 14, 2023

Webster, Massachusetts – April 30, 1929

     On the night of April 30, 1929, a U. S. Mail plane belonging to Colonial Air Transport, Inc. was attempting to take off from the Webster – Dudley Air Field when the aircraft failed to gain sufficient speed on the muddy field and crashed into a stone wall.  The plane was bound for Hartford, Connecticut, when the crash occurred.  The pilot, and his passenger, the night supervisor of the New York – Newark, N.J. line, were not injured. 

     Source: New Britain Herald, (Conn.), “Plane Wrecked In Webster”, May 1, 1929.         

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,
Return to Top ▲Return to Top ▲