Killed in service as a Radio Operator on C-47B Skytrain #43-30682, in a crash in Oakland, California.
At approximately 06:10 hours, the transport departed Oakland Municipal Airport runway 27 for an intended flight to McChord Field in Tacoma, Washington. As the plane was climbing out to 1,000 feet over the city, the left motor quit due to vapor lock. Pilot Zimmerman immediately turned around and attempted to return to the airfield. Descending to 600 feet, the plane faltered and began to lose elevation rapidly. At about 150 ft. agl, entered a shallow spin, then abruptly into a near vertical dive, smashing into the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jacobson near the intersection of 38th and Mare streets in Oakland. The couple had just sat down at their kitchen table for breakfast. Both barely escaped with their lives. The cartwheeling airplane also damaged two neighboring homes. All eight personnel aboard were killed. No one on the ground were seriously injured.
In May, 1944, the Secret Service arrested Oakland police officer Harry Scott for allegedly stealing cash from the bodies of the crash victims.
The personnel killed were:
LTC Ralph L Zimmerman, Pilot
1LT Ralph G Breshears, Co-Pilot
SSGT Benjamin D Edwards, Flight Engineer
SGT Harold J Manasse Jr, Radio Operator
1LT Paul B Selbe, Passenger
SGT Vincent J Virga, Passenger
PVT Robert La Pan, Passenger
LTJG Howard H Knight, USCGR Passenger
Killed in service as a Radio Operator on C-47B Skytrain #43-30682, in a crash in Oakland, California.
At approximately 06:10 hours, the transport departed Oakland Municipal Airport runway 27 for an intended flight to McChord Field in Tacoma, Washington. As the plane was climbing out to 1,000 feet over the city, the left motor quit due to vapor lock. Pilot Zimmerman immediately turned around and attempted to return to the airfield. Descending to 600 feet, the plane faltered and began to lose elevation rapidly. At about 150 ft. agl, entered a shallow spin, then abruptly into a near vertical dive, smashing into the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Jacobson near the intersection of 38th and Mare streets in Oakland. The couple had just sat down at their kitchen table for breakfast. Both barely escaped with their lives. The cartwheeling airplane also damaged two neighboring homes. All eight personnel aboard were killed. No one on the ground were seriously injured.
In May, 1944, the Secret Service arrested Oakland police officer Harry Scott for allegedly stealing cash from the bodies of the crash victims.
The personnel killed were:
LTC Ralph L Zimmerman, Pilot
1LT Ralph G Breshears, Co-Pilot
SSGT Benjamin D Edwards, Flight Engineer
SGT Harold J Manasse Jr, Radio Operator
1LT Paul B Selbe, Passenger
SGT Vincent J Virga, Passenger
PVT Robert La Pan, Passenger
LTJG Howard H Knight, USCGR Passenger
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ILLINOIS
SGT. 94 TROOP CARRIER SQ. AC
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