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Former Local Pastor Dies In Plane CrashSixdied as a result of a Ugh! plan* Clash IS mil** northeast oI Albert Lea Thursday afternoon. Among the drad was the pilot, Rev. Eugene Whitcomb. 41, a former resident of Albert Lea and pastor of the Assemblies of God Church hero for IS years Killed along with Rev. Whitcomb were flva members of his Rockford. III., congregation That church, the lint Assembly of God Church ei Rockford, owned the aircraft, a stl-eeal twin-engme Piper.F r • e b om County Sheriff Holland laak said there are pretty good indications that the plane exploded in mid-air. although FAA investigations inio the crash are continuing Laak identified the victims as Gary Larson. 27. Thomas Carp, III George Davis. JJ; Stephen Held. 20; and Charles Hakes.aFive of the victims were dead at the scene and the sixth, H.kes died en route to St. Olaf Hospital In Austin The six men were returningto Illinois from Mohridge. S D where the six men had spent two days helping put a root on a new addition to the Good Shepherd Indian Bible School.TV era* was reported by Mrs Amos Hclgcson. who lives rear the Red Oak Grose*1-WIwREV. EUGENE WHITCOMBlutberan Church near tha Freeborn County line. She reported that she heard a poot before the plan,- went down, according to Sheriff Laak.Another eyewitness to the 1:1S p m crash. Sanford Turvold. 16, rural Austin, said he was standing in the yard at his farm kxnc one-half mile south ot the crash scene shortly before he beard the plane in troubleTurvold told authorities he looked up after Scaring the •puttering. He said the aircraft was flying at a high altitudeAll of a sudden the engine revved up like a model airplane's. and then exploded in midair. Turvold said He said he watched the mam part of the wreckage fall to the ground and hurried to the sceneDebris from the plane was spread on the ground and in trees over a V4 mile area Themain body ofwasthe plane field near a vacant farm in such a way that it appeared to have fallen straight down. Two bodies were located at that spot, and searchers found tV other four a me distance away, along with other parts of the plane An aircraft circling overhead aided in the search for bodies and parts of the airplane; however part of the tail section has not yet been found, according to the Freedom County sheriffs department.First to the scene of the crash was the Blooming Prairie Rescue Squad and a deputy from tV Mcmer Countysheriffs department.County deputy Jean Jackson. tom-work at the scene. They reallysaying,tV.rA Tragic EndTn AAiccinn
Newspaper Details
Albert Lea Evening Tribune
Albert Lea, Minnesota, US
Thu, Sep 12, 1974
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Gary T.
USA 11 Sep 2017
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