Pawtucket, Rhode Island – January 9, 1930

     On January 9, 1930, three men borded a Challenger biplane at Pawtucket’s What Cheer Airport bound for Florida.  The plane was reportedly heavy with supplies, luggage, and the weight of the three men.  As the plae took off, it barely reached an altitude of 75 feet before it suddenly “pancaked” into the top of a tree and fliped forward crashing nose first into thick brush and swampland along the edge of the Ten Mile River.   None of the men aboard were injured and the plane didn’t suffer too much damage. 

     One of the passengers aboard this flight was well known Woonsocket businessman Herman Dolbeck.  It was reported that he hadn’t told his wife about the trip to Florida because she feared for his safety when he flew in airplanes.  Mr. Dolbeck later perished in a plane crash at the Smithfield, R. I. Airport on May 28, 1934.  

     Source: 

     Providence Journal, “Heavily Loaded Craft, Taking Off from What Cheer Airport For Miami, Fails To Gain Altitude – Woonsocket Man Keeping Trip Secret”, January 10, 1930, Pg. 1.