Westhampton, Massachusetts – December 1, 1942
On December 1, 1942, a flight of three P-47 aircraft left Westover Field in Chicopee, Massachusetts, for a formation training flight. While passing over the Westhampton area, the flight encountered thick cloud conditions and became separated. The cloud cover extended low to the ground, and one of the aircraft, (Ser. No. 41-5924), piloted by 2nd Lt. Charles C. May, crashed and exploded into the side of Tob Hill behind the Congregational Church. Lt. May was killed instantly.
Lt. May, of Lauder, Michigan, was 21-years-old, assigned to the 340th Fighter Squadron.
Another aircraft assigned to this flight, a P-47B, (Ser. No. 41-6011), crashed in the town of Cummington, Massachusetts, after the pilot was forced to bail out. The pilot, 2nd Lt. Jack Lastor, landed safely. Cummington, Ma. – December 1, 1942
Sources:
Springfield Republican, “Planes Crash In Westhampton, Cummington”, December 2, 1942
The Waterbury Evening Democrat, “Plane Crashes Blamed On Snow”, December 2, 1942
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