Imperial Valley Press

Six Perish When Bomber Crashes at Muroc Lake Field

Big Army Plane Carries Crew to Death as Pilot Levels Off for Landing

MARCH FIELD, Riverside May 28. (UP)--Two officers and four enlisted men were killed, and a seventh critically injured last night when a huge army bomber crashed while attempting to land at Muroc dry lake, army air corps headquarters announced today.

The bomber, a B-18-A Douglas from the 34th bombing squadron stationed at March Field, crashed as it leveled off for a landing in returning from a night bombing mission.

The plane crumpled in ruins but did not burn.

The dead:

Second Lieut. Jess A. Smith, 30, Woodrow, Colo., pilot.

Second Lieut. Charles A. Nisbett, 25, Alton, Ill., co-pilot.

Private Wayne Z. Kauffman, Burlington, Iowa.

Private Doyle H. Bean, Kirbyville, Texas.

Private Eugene A. Schultz, Twin Falls, Idaho.

Private Therman T. Owens, Ardmore, Okla.

Only survivor was Private John B. Stewart, of Midway, Alabama who was thrown clear of the plane He was injured critically and was flown to Letterman Hospital in San Francisco immediately after the crash was discovered by an army air corps detachment stationed at Muroc Lake, 80 miles north of here.

The crash occurred at about 1 a.m. the army spokesman said. The bomber was the plane engaged in the maneuver.

A detachment of the army air corps at Muroc Lake rescued Stewart. Capts. Overacre, O'Hara and Zergwittle, who were at the army station with another bomber, flew Stewart to Hamilton Field near San Rafael, from which he was taken to Letterman hospital in San Francisco

Authorities at March Field did not learn of the crash until this morning.