Wells, Maine – August 5, 1948
P-51 Mustang – U.S. Air Force Photo
On August 5, 1948, a flight of four F-51 Mustang fighter planes took off from Grenier Field in Manchester, New Hampshire, for a formation training flight. All were part of the 82nd Fighter Group stationed at Grenier.
While passing over Wells, Maine, one of the aircraft fell out of formation and crashed in a wooded area near Berwick Road. The pilot, First Lieutenant Charles J. Murry, (26), was killed.
The cause of the accident wasn’t stated in the press.
Lieutenant Murry had served as a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater during WWII and flew 73 combat missions. He was survived by his wife and 1-year-old son. He’s buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Saint Mary’s, Kansas.
To view a photo of his grave click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148033267/charles-joseph-murry
The F-51 Mustang was formerly known as the P-51. The designation was changed in 1947.
Sources:
The Nashua Telegraph, “Lt. Murry Dies As Fighter Plane Goes Into Dive”, August 6, 1948, page 1.
www.findagrave.com
