Presque Isle, ME Army Plane Crashes, Sep 1942

ARMY PLANE CRASH CLAIMS SEVEN MEN.

Presque Isle, Me., Sept. 22. -- (AP) -- Two officers and five enlisted men perished today in the crash of an army plane six miles northeast of Presque Isle.
They were the complement of the plane, which headquarters of the Presque Isle Air Base said was on a routine flight.
Base headquarters identified the men as:
Second Lieutenant R. L. DROGULA, the pilot.
Second Lieutenant J. Q. CROCKER, the co-pilot.
S/Sgt. WILLIAM H. FINCH.
S/Sgt. BILLY J. HILL.
S/Sgt. GEORGE E. SIMMONS.
S/Sgt. LAWRENCE A. ROBINSON.
S/Sgt. JOSEPH MORTINO.
Neither ages or home addresses were available.
Base headquarters said that the plane "crashed in poor visibility" and that the cause would have to be determined by a special board of inquiry.
The crash took place off the Fort Fairfield road, about half way between that town and Presque Isle.
Civilians who said they saw the ship burst into flames in the air reported the accident to the air base. Soldier-searchers recovered the bodies.

Daily Kennebec Journal Maine 1942-09-23
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!