from author and historian Jim Ignasher
Norwalk, Connecticut – June 15, 1940
On the evening of June 15, 1940, what was described as a “sight-seeing cabin plane” crashed into a stone wall while landing at the Norwalk Airport. It was reported that the aircraft had been caught in a downdraft at the time of the accident. One person aboard suffered non-life-threatening injuries; the other three people aboard were not hurt.
Source:
The Waterford Democrat, “One Injured In Plane Crash”, June 17, 1940
Norwalk, Connecticut – August 21, 1934
On August 21, 1934, a 27-year-old man was killed when the aircraft he was piloting crashed while making a landing approach at the Norwalk Airport. Witnesses stated the aircraft went into a spin while it was still about 100 feet in the air. The man had just purchased the airplane three weeks earlier for $2,200, and reportedly had 18 hours of flying experience.
Source:
The Waterbury Democrat, “Student Flyer Met With Death”, August 22, 1934.
Norwalk, Connecticut – July 26, 1933
On July 26, 1933, three young men took off from Norwalk Airport to test fly an airplane. One man was the 18-year-old son of the airport’s owner, and his older brother was considering buying the plane, but the older brother was not aboard. The pilot was employed as a aircraft mechanic at the Norwalk Airport, and the third person aboard was 20-years-old.
Shortly after take off witnesses saw the plane go into a nose dive and crash near the edge of the airport. Two of those aboard were killed instantly, while the pilot was taken to a nearby hospital where it was reported that he only had a small chance of recovering.
Sources:
The Waterbury Democrat, “Youths Killed In testing Out Their Plane”, July 27, 1933.
The Evening Star, (Wash. D.C.), “Two Die In Plane Crash”, July 27, 1933.
Norwalk Airport, Norwalk, Connecticut – December 12, 1938
On December 12, 1938, 2nd Lt. Lawrence A. Spillman, 25, was piloting a North American BC-1 aircraft, (Ser. no. 38-379) on a training flight over Connecticut when he encountered thick cloudy weather. The aircraft’s radio receiver wasn’t working properly, and with deteriorating conditions, he thought it wise to set down at the nearest airfield rather than attempt to make it back to his home base of Mitchel Field on Long Island, New York.
As he came in to land at Norwalk Airport, the aircraft hit a patch of soft ground and flipped over on its back. Neither Lt. Spillman, or his passenger, 2nd Lt. Leroy L. Stefonowicz, 21, were injured.
It was reported that it was necessary to rip apart part of the fuselage and dig a hole under the aircraft to free the flyers. The aircraft was less than eight months old and it was said little could be salvaged.
The men were assigned to the 5th Bomb Squadron based at Mitchel Field, Long Island, N.Y.
Norwalk Airport was a small airfield that no longer exists. Today, All Saints Catholic School at 139 W. Rocks Rd. occupies the site of the former airport.
Sources:
U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Report Of Aircraft Accident, dated December 16, 1938.
The Waterbury Democrat, “Army Pursuit Plane Crashes”, December 12, 1938
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