Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

This one I know very little about other than:

Location: Pensacola, Florida

Date quoted: July 30th/31st 1929

The crew were

Ensign Henry Harrsion G'Sell USNavy (later killed at Pensacola, Florida 4th October 1929 in Curtiss F6C-3 A7139) sometimes spelt incorrectly as Gsell and born 24 Jan 1904

and Corp? Sgt Robert A Williams USMC

Can anyone please provide the date and aircraft involved?

This is the report on G'Sell death..
"October 5, 1929

Student Flier Killed in Crash PENSACOLA,'Fla,. Oct. 5.--(INS) -Ensign Henry G'Sell, student naval aviator, was killed late yesterday when the airplane he was flying over naval stations airfield here suddenly dived 2,500 feet to the ground. No explanation of the accident was. forthcoming. It was believed that something caused the officer to lose control of his craft and that he did not have sufficient. 'time to extricate himself for a parachute jump. G'Sell is from Kansas City, Mo. "

Many Thanks Paul

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

The 31 July accident involved O2U-3, A-8216. In a formation join-up G'Sell collided with A-8217 and was forced to jump, together with his passenger. The latter aircraft landed back safely.

In the later, fatal, accident G'Sell was attempting a slow roll but ended up in an inverted spin.

Hope this helps.

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

George

Helps immensely many thanks out of interest is the name of crew of A-8217 mentioned

Kind regards
Paul

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

I can find no information about A-8217's crew. It appears that only one interplane and one centre section struts were damaged: the aircraft continued to serve at Pensacola until 1938.

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

George thanks to your clues I can partially identify the other crew

I will fully ID them next week :


August 1, 1929
The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana · Page 11

TWO PLANES COLLIDE; 4 MEN ESCAPE UNHURT PENSACOLA, Fla., July 3l.-f Two marine airplanes collided at an altitude of about two thousand feet today and both were wrecked. Four men escaped. Tha planes were flown by Ensign H. H. G'Sell and Lieut. C. J. Chappelle. Ensign G'Sell had as his passenger Corp. R. A. Williams, while Lieut. Chappelle had as his passenger Ensign E. O. Southwlck. As the crash occurred, Lieut. Chappelle brought his plane over on an even keel and turned Its nose toward the naval landing field at the air station. Despite the damage to machine a safe landing was made. The other plane was so badly damaged that the pilot could not right it. The two occupants Jumped to safety with parachutes

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

Lieut. C. J. Chappell USMC

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...gr&GRid=483609

Clarence Joseph Chappell, Jr

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

E O Southwick

Is I think

EDWARD PAGE "BUD" SOUTHWICK

http://cloverfield.org/people/southwick_ep/index.php

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

Confirmed is Edward Page Southwick as he was only Southwick in navy at time

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

Corp/Sgt Robert A Williams USMC was training to be a Naval Air Pilot at the time. He qualified and ended up in "VJ Squadron GM Q S Second Brigade Managua Nicaragua" in March 1930 -

which I think is this http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/usa/...SMC-VMJ152.htm

And then I cannot find him after that.

He enlisted 28 Nov 1927 and was initially a Plane mechanic and served previously in Nicaragua and San Diego

Re: Florida US Navy Crash July 30th/31st 1929
 

George/Paul

Which unit did A8216/8217 belong to at the time of the incident?
Also which unit did A7139 belong to?

Cheers
Stig