Pittsburgher Killed When Plane Falls

"Pittsburgher Killed When Plane Falls. Scranton Aviator Also Meets Death in Crash Near New York. Strike Gas Tank." n.p., [6 May 1919].

Ensign Hugh J. Adams, aged 30, of 216 Goodrich street, Pittsburgh, and Chief Machinist's Mate Harold Corey of Scranton, were instantly killed at the Rockaway Beach naval air station yesterday, when the machine in which they were flying dived into a big hydrogen gas tank. News to that effect was received last night in an Associated Press dispatch. The two men were crushed to death beneath the engine of the plane which crashed through the cockpit in which they were sitting.

According to the dispatch, the flight, part of the regular daily maneuvers at the air station, had been in progress only five minutes when the accident occurred. The machine, the HS-1, a small hydro-airplane rose from the water and circled over the land at a height of about 400 feet. When it was above the hydrogen tank the engine went dead and the plane began to nose-dive. Ensign Adams attempted to right it but had not sufficient altitude, and the machine crashed into the roof of the tank, bursting through the steel top. The tank was empty.

Ensign Adams was one of the oldest flyers in the Navy, having enlisted in July, 1917. He trained at Pensacola, Fla., a brief while and was subsequently assigned to the Boston Institute of Technology, where he stayed four months. In July, 1918, he completed his training and was sent to the Rockaway Beach air station where, during the submarine scare off the Atlantic during the war, he saw active guard duty. For this service he was awarded the overseas chevron. He had been home on leave of absence one month ago and had expected his discharge the latter part of this month. Prior to enlisting he was a salesman employed by the United States Glass Company here. He was active in athletics, particularly as relating to canoeing, in which sport he had won numerous prizes. He was a member of the Central Presbyterian Church, the Central Branch Y. M. C. A. and the Masonic Order, having been a thirty-second degree Mason.

A brother, Ralph J. Adams, is with the Naval Reserve Corps, stationed at Santiago, Cal. Besides his brother he leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Adams, and one sister, Mrs. Charles R. Brady, of West Park, Pittsburgh.

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