Sparta, WI Military Plane Crashes, July 1953

C-45 CRASHES KILLING FOUR.

Sparta, Wis. (UP) -- A small Air Force plane crashed a short time after taking off from the Camp McCoy airport Monday, killing four men, military authorities said.
Col. Fred C. Dyer, deputy commander of the post, said it was believed the plane carried three Air Force men and a Coast Guardsman.
The plane, enroute from Denver, Colo., to Dayton, O., landed at the McCoy airstrip to refuel, and crashed less than two miles away into a marshy area near Angelo AIrport, a smaller field.
Mrs. Flora Williams, a resident of the area, said she saw the twin-engine C-45 coming low. She said it "nosed down, hit the ground and bounced." Then it burst into flames.
Workers on the North Western Railroad tracks rushed to the wreckage but were unable to get the occupants out because of the flames.
Military guards barred the area until the wreckage cooled enough to remove the bodies. The victims names were withheld pending notification of relatives.
An Air Force investigating team from nearby Camp Williams arrived at the scene a short time after the crash.

Logansport Pharos-Tribune Indiana 1953-07-07

List of Casualties:
Commander LeWAYNE N. FELTS, Coast Guard.
Capt. PHILLIP M. CLINTON, U.S.A.F.
1st Lt. RORY G. JAHN, U.S.A.F.
CWO KENNETH ZIEGLER, U.S.A.F.
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!