Westover Field – January 14, 1943

Westover Field, Chicopee, Massachusetts – January 14, 1943

 

P-47B Thunderbolt
U.S. Air Force Photo

     On January 14, 1943, two P-47B fighter aircraft were over Westover Filed when they were involved in a mid-air collision.  One aircraft, (Ser. No. 41-6005), piloted by 1st Lieutenant Joseph H. Freeman, Jr., of Weatherford, Texas, crashed and burned, killing Lt. Freeman.  The other aircraft, (Ser. No. 41-6002), suffered little damage and landed safely. 

     Both aircraft were part of the 340th Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, then stationed at Westover.   

     Lt. Freeman is buried in City Greenwood Cemetery in Weatherford, Texas.  To see a photo of his grave go to www.findagrave.com.  One will note that he was born on January 14, 1920, and died on his 23rd birthday.  

     The aircraft involved in this accident which landed safely, (41-6002), crashed and burned in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, on March 24, 1943.  The pilot did not survive.  The details of that accident are posted here: West Greenwich – March 24, 1943

     Sources:

     Unknown Newspaper, “Plane Collision Kills One Pilot At Westover”, January 15, 1943

     www.findagrave.com

 

Westover Field – February 9, 1943

Westover Field – February 9, 1943

 

P-47 Thunderbolt – U.S. Air Force Photo

     On February 9, 1943, a P-47B fighter plane, (Ser. No. 41-6009), was taking off from Westover Field in Chicopee, Massachusetts, when the plane struck a snowbank and went out of control and ran into three men on a snow removal detail.  Two of men were killed instantly, the third was injured.  The pilot of the aircraft was not hurt.

     The dead were identified as:

     Pvt. Jacob Adelsky, 22, of Brooklyn, New York.  He’s buried at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, N.Y.  To see a photo of Pvt. Adelsky, go to www.findagrave.com, Memorial #26119296.

     Pvt. Dewey A. O’Neal, 44, of Blytheville, Arkansas. He’s buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Blytheville.

     The injured man was not identified.

     Source: The Springfield Union, “Two Soldiers Killed, One Injured By Plane Taking Off At Westover Field”, February 10, 1943, page 1. 

Westover Field – February 21, 1942

Westover Army Air Field, Chicopee, Massachusetts 

 

U.S. Army A-29 Attack Bomber – U.S. Air Force Photo

      At about 8:30 a.m. on the morning of February 21, 1942, a Lockheed A-29 aircraft with a crew of five aboard crashed on takeoff from runway 33 at the Westover Army Air Feld in Chicopee, Mass. 

     As the aircraft was leaving the ground the pilot raised the landing gear.  A strong crosswind was blowing at the time, and when the aircraft was at an altitude of about 20 feet it suddenly dropped back to the ground in a flat attitude.  During the impact, the co-pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Gordon C. McAthur, 24, of Paris, Texas, was hurled against the control panel and fatally injured. 

     None of the other crew members were injured. 

     Lt. McArthur is buried in Evergreen cemetery in Paris, Texas.  To see a photo of him, click on the link below.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55039852/gordon-cross-mcarthur

     Sources:

     Springfield Republican, “Dies After Crash Of Warplane At Westover”, February 22, 1942, page 1

     www.findagrave.com

 

 

 

 

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