DAY, Russell - 1947 - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

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DAY, Russell - 1947

Source: Kingman Star Friday, August 8, 1947

  Russell Day, 19, died in an ambulance a few minutes after his light plane crashed in the back yard of the William Kiger home here early Sunday afternoon. Day was alone in the plane.
  The plane, flying low, had brushed a pear tree on the lawn of the Ernest Ludlow home next to the Kiger home.

  The Aeronca plane had been rented by Day at the Kingman airport, where he was visiting his sister, Mrs. Helen Pithoud. He was a licensed pilot, having received his training at Tulsa, Okla. and had spent a year in the Navy.

  He left the Kingman field at 1:10 o’clock Sunday afternoon and flew here immediately before the crash. No reason for his flying so low was apparent immediately, except that he was stunting.
  Dr. Gilbert Himebaugh was called to the scene of the crash at once, as was the Fishero ambulance, and Day died a few miles from here en route to Culver Hospital. His chest had been crushed and his head severely injured in the accident, and he never regained consciousness.

  Paul Brown, who saw the accident, was also the first person to reach the scene of the crash. State Policeman Robert Allenduff and Clarence Short investigated the accident, as did Fountain County Coroner Charles Fishero. It was reported Sunday night that the Civil Aeronautics Administration, a federal agency which controls civilian flying, would have investigators here Monday.

  Day was employed in Hoopeston, Ill., and his father is Arlie Day, Tulsa Okla. His mother is Mrs. Leon Rogers, and lives in Michigan. – thanks so very much to S&E for all their wonderful obituary work

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