Mineola, Long Island, NY Martin Bomber Crashes, Sep 1922

BOMBING PLANE CRASHES TO EARTH, SIX KILLED.

FLAMES QUICKLY FOLLOW PLUNGE.

Mineola, L. I., Sept. 23 -- Six persons in a Martin bomb plane were killed here tonight when the aeroplane struck the ground at the end of a nose dive.
The machine contained a pilot and five passengers. The accident came as a climax of the flying circus here. The pilot of the machine was First Lieutenant RAYMOND E. DAVIS, of the regular army.
The machine burst into flames when it struck the ground.
Lieut. DAVIS, with the big twin motor bomber, the heaviest machine here, had paraticipated with the attacking forces in a night air raid over the theoretical fortifications. The attack was made with dynamite bombs and was successful. The theoretical fortifications were demolished.
At the conclusion of the maneuvers, before a gallery of 25,000 persons and including many motion picture operators, the flyers engaged in a flying circus, lighted by the huge searchlights. After this, a number of planes took up passengers selected principally from among the 500 reserve officers of the second corps area, for whose benefit the war problem was being worked out.
Lieut. DAVIS took up five passengers in his big machine. While some distance up, the machine went into a nose dive out of which DAVIS apparently was unable to pull it. The machine struck the ground with both motors wide open. Instantly it burst into flames.
After the crash all sources of information were stopped by order of Major WEAVER, commandant at Mitchell field, pending an investigation and the ascertaining of the names of the victims.
All Were "Army Men"
All of the passengers, according to the Garden City police were "army men." It was not known how many if any were reserve officers and how many were regular army officers. It is presumed that at least one of the six was an enlisted man serving as a mechanician.
The occupants of the plane, besides Lieut DAVIS, U.S.A. were First Sergeant THOMAS BENFIELD of the Sixth air park, Mineola; Corporals STIVINS, NICHOLS, WINTERS and KANE. They were all stationed at Mitchell field.
Three Killed Outright.
Three of the passengers were killed outright. Three were taken from the wreck in such serious condition that the surgeon said they had not enough chance to live to reckon with.
The authorities refused to state at 1 o'clock this (Sunday) morning how many of the injured, if any, survived at that hour.
The big plane had just completed a series of figure eights when it went into a dive. It struck with both motors wide open and at a speed of probably 120 miles an hour, figuring in the momentum of the descent plus the speed of the plane.
Mist Was Cause.
A purple land mist which came up after the big plane had taken off probably was responsible for the tragedy. It rose to a height of 100 feet, completely covering the ground. When DAVIS came out of his last figure eight he was between 700 and 800 feet from the ground.
Not realizing that the mist had come up beneath him and failing to appreciate it is believed, that he had lost considerable height in his evolutions, he did not take the necessary emergency measures when the plane nosed down.
To spectators it appears that he was planning to land and wished to lose height before coming into the field. The land virtually rose up and struck the plane. Observers say they do not think DAVIS ever knew what happened.
The accident happened about a mile and a half from the flying headquarters and about 200 yards south of the Hempstead turnpike, which was lined with spectators at this point.
Ambulances Waiting.
The ambulances at flying headquarters were waiting with motors running in case of accident and started off almost simultaneously with the burst of flame which assured all of the accident.
Major G. V. RUKEE and Captain LUTHER H. KICE, both in the army medical corps, were in the ambulance which sped across the big field. When they reached the wreck however, the fire had burned itself out and only a skeleton of the plane remained. The bodies of Lieut. DAVIS and two of the men were in the wreckage. Three men had been thrown clear of the machine, indicating that they had risen at the last second and were standing when the nose of the machine hit the ground.
Fragments of the plane were scattered over an area of 300 square feet.
Major WEAVER, commandant at Mitchell field, had announced that all victims are dead.

The Mansfield News Ohio 1922-09-24
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!