Captain Cuyler served at Randolph Field, Texas, during World War II.
Beech AT-7C #43-33510 departed Randolph Field in San Antonio for an administrative flight to the Army airfield in Wichita Falls, Texas. Concluding business at Sheppard Field, the airplane was not cleared for a direct return flight back to Randolph Field due to poor weather. The pilot flew to Fort Worth and landed and refueled before continuing onward for San Antonio.
Attempting to locate Randolph Field in poor weather and flying in instrument conditions, the AT-7 became lost and the pilot made circular patterns while attempting to lock onto a radio navigation beam. The aircraft crashed, three miles east of Twin Sisters, Texas. The crash killed three aboard, and one passenger was thrown from the wreckage and survived.
T/Sgt. Clyde W. Bartel was seriously injured, but at daylight was able to reach a nearby highway and flag down a passing farmer. He informed investigators that he noticed the gyro was indicating that the plane was upside down moments before crashing.
Investigators noted that the pilot had only 4 hours of flying experience in the AT-7 type and that he did not possess an instrument flying rating card.
The airmen killed were:
2LT John E Hyland, O-802399, MI, Pilot
PVT Richard Sussman, 39705498, CA, Passenger
~
Entered the service from Texas; Service ID: O-910609.
Captain Cuyler served at Randolph Field, Texas, during World War II.
Beech AT-7C #43-33510 departed Randolph Field in San Antonio for an administrative flight to the Army airfield in Wichita Falls, Texas. Concluding business at Sheppard Field, the airplane was not cleared for a direct return flight back to Randolph Field due to poor weather. The pilot flew to Fort Worth and landed and refueled before continuing onward for San Antonio.
Attempting to locate Randolph Field in poor weather and flying in instrument conditions, the AT-7 became lost and the pilot made circular patterns while attempting to lock onto a radio navigation beam. The aircraft crashed, three miles east of Twin Sisters, Texas. The crash killed three aboard, and one passenger was thrown from the wreckage and survived.
T/Sgt. Clyde W. Bartel was seriously injured, but at daylight was able to reach a nearby highway and flag down a passing farmer. He informed investigators that he noticed the gyro was indicating that the plane was upside down moments before crashing.
Investigators noted that the pilot had only 4 hours of flying experience in the AT-7 type and that he did not possess an instrument flying rating card.
The airmen killed were:
2LT John E Hyland, O-802399, MI, Pilot
PVT Richard Sussman, 39705498, CA, Passenger
~
Entered the service from Texas; Service ID: O-910609.
Inscription
CAPT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
