US Navy Incident "26" Sept 1929 Newport News
 

Trying to identify this incident from following newspaper report


The Scranton Republican › 27 September 1929 › Page 14 ...

FLIERS JUMP TO SAFETY . NEWPORT NEWS NEWPORT NEWS, Va.. Sept. 26 m. Dropping 4000 feet in parachutes, Lieut. James W. Baker, pilot, and Aviation Mechanic's Mate J. F. Benecke, of the Hampton Roads naval air station near Norfolk, escaped unhurt tonight when their observation plane fell into the edge 'of the Hampton Roads near here.

I have the date of the incident listed variously as September 20/26/27, 1929 - But I believe September 26 1929 to be correct

The people involved are

Pilot Lt James Ellis Baker (28 Feb 1899 to 22 March 1984) - Later Captain WW2
Passenegr Joseph "Joe" Freeman Benecke (13 October 1904 to 29 December 1992) - Later LtJG WW2

Can anyone please confirm the date and type and serial involved.

I had this on back burner for a while as only just ID'd Benecke

Many Thanks

Paul

Re: US Navy Incident "26" Sept 1929 Newport News
 

Paul,

I can't find any report for this so if the date is correct it must be missing from the range.

Re: US Navy Incident "26" Sept 1929 Newport News
 

George Thanks

Irving Caterpillar records list it as 20th Sept. But I see an OCR news report from 27th Sept 1929 (that says "28") which I can't believe is right as they were reporting it a week late!

Thanks for looking anyway

Paul

Re: US Navy Incident "26" Sept 1929 Newport News
 

Paul,

May be worth further checking out.
On findagrave.com under Constance Baker Godfrey, born Nov. 26, 1927 in Pensacola, Florida, it says that her father, Lt James E. Baker: ".. having flown from Norfolk, VA., arriving barely in time after a minor air collision en route.."

Not sure yet if related to your question.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: US Navy Incident "26" Sept 1929 Newport News
 

Sorry, unlikely to be related, I see now. Two years apart...

Leendert