[paulmcmillan]

On my list of bailouts is Gunners Mate Lonzo 'Lon' Francis Alford at Pensacola on May 29, 1931

It appears from the newspaper reports he was flying a civilian 2 seat Fleet aircraft - I know a few Fleet aircraft were with US Navy at time and wanted ti make sure that the newspaper report was accurate

Pensacola News Journal
Pensacola, Florida
Saturday, May 30, 1931 - Page 1 "Lon F Alford sixty-first naval member" over northwestern city as yesterday at 6,

"Flying Magazine Aug 1931 Pilotless Plane Crashes Near Hunter OTIS JOHNSON did some skillful dodging and received a cut on the hand when a pilotless plane crashed six feet from him near this city. The experience occurred when Lon F. Alford, navy pilot, jumped with his parachute from a 2,200.foot altitude as his plane went into an outside spin and got out of control. Fragments of the cylinder head of the engine struck Johnson on the hand while he was hunting chicken hawks. Alford was stunting a privately owned plane when he was forced to jump. The plane glided upside down over Johnson's head and crashed. Alford landed safely 200 feet away. "

Lonzo F Alford b.27 Jul 1892 Missouri Joined US Navy 1914 - was on first US Ship sunk in WW1. Died just sort of 20 year service and pension
Death 13 Feb 1934 San Diego, California, United States
Buried Cotton Creek Cem.,Oregon Co., MO

Thanks Paul