Introduction
On the morning of April 9, 1952, a C-47 transport plane with ten men aboard, took off from Otis Air Force
Base en-route to Niagara Falls, New York. The transport had landed at Otis from Steward AFB in Newburgh,
New York. Shortly after take off, while the C-47 was passing over the neighboring Camp Edwards firing
range, it was involved in a mid-air collision with an F-94B fighter jet on its way to a gunnery practice
mission. The collision occurred in cloud cover between five to seven thousand feet, and officials speculated that poor visibility may have played a role in the crash.
Both planes exploded and flaming debris rained down over a wide area setting several large brush fires. One parachute was seen, but it was found to be empty – likely deployed by the
impact.
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Fatalities - C-47 Transport
- Beckham, Maj. Benjamin Collins, 34, Cornwall-On-Hudson, New York
- Berg, Maj. Leland Arthur, 36, Goshen, New York
- Bryson, Lt. Col. William C., 34, Stewart AFB
- Cooper, TSgt. Daniel B., 41, Stewart AFB
- Erwin, Capt. William H., 31, Herrin, IL
- Foster, Capt. Clinton C., 33, Gardner, New York
- Hardesty, Airman 1c Harry Eugene, 21, Campbell Hall, New York
- Heder, Capt. Richard E., 31, Rock Tavern, New York
- Hendricks, Capt. Lane S., 31, McHenry, IL
- Pollock, TSgt. William Donald, 29, Newburgh, New York
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Fatalities - F-94B Jet Fighter
- Kulpinski, 1Lt. Thaddeus Chester - radar observer
- Smoke, Capt. Charles J., 35, Shenandoah, Iowa - pilot
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Biographies of the Airmen
Beckham, Maj. Benjamin Collins
Major Beckham was a son of Benjamin Collins Beckham (1872-1965) and Fanny Carroll Barbour Beckham
(1874-1946). His sister was Fanny Coleman Beckham Stewart (1907-2004) and a brother was John
Strode Beckham (1909-1998).
Berg, Maj. Leland Arthur
Born October 14, 1916, Major Berg was from New York. He was a World War II veteran.
Bryson, Lt. Col. William C. Cooper, TSgt. Daniel B. Erwin, Capt. William H.
Foster, Capt. Clinton C. Hardesty, Airman 1c Harry Eugene
Born February 25, 1931, Airman Hardesty was from Maryland.
Heder, Capt. Richard E. Hendricks, Capt. Lane S.
Born December 21, 1920, Captain Hendricks was a son of Ollie A. Hendricks (1900-1969) and Eathel
[sic] Sarver Hendricks (1900-1982). His brother was Delmar Levane Hendricks (1928-1982).
Kulpinski, Capt. Thaddeus Chester
Captain Kulpinski was born July 12, 1920 in Poland.
Pollock, TSgt. William Donald
Born March 16, 1923 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Sergeant Pollock was the son of Earl Calvert
Pollock (1896-1972) and Mary Viola Speck Pollock (1895-1981).
Smoke, Capt. Charles J. |
