Westfield – Barnes Airport – May 30, 1947

Westfield – Barnes Airport – May 30, 1947

     On May 30, 1947, an airshow was in progress at the Westfield-Barnes Airport in Westfield, Massachusetts.  One of the performers was piloting a Vaultee BT-13; a former military trainer aircraft.   At one point during the show the Vaultee went into a steep dive from which the aircraft did not recover.  The airplane hit some trees and then broke apart as it tumbled for 200 yards.   The 23-year-old pilot did not survive. 

     Source: The Nashua Telegraph, “Air Hero Is Dead In Crash”, May 31, 1947.  

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