PILOT STORIES: Bunting,
Walter M.*
| Air Mail
Service Began: |
November 15, 1920 |
| Air Mail Service Ended: |
May 5, 1921 |
| Total Hours Flown: |
unknown |
| Total Miles Flown: |
unknown |
| Assignment: |
College Park, Maryland |
| |
December 1, 1920 – Cheyenne, Wyoming |
On May 5, 1921, Walter M. Bunting was killed
while coming in for a landing at Rock Springs, Wyoming, when
his airplane dove into the ground. He was 50' in the air
as he passed the hangar, and his motor sounded fine according
to witnesses. One witness stated that "the airplane was
being climbed too steeply to get speed quickly and therefore
when he made his first turn he lost some 50'. He continued
to climb after turning and when his airplane was up about 150'
it seemed to have a slight miss but apparently revved up good."
Bunting banked too much and went into a steep spin from which
he could not recover.
Bunting's widow, Mrs. Lilliam T. Bunting of Carney's
Point, New Jersey, was awarded the standard $35 per month
compensation for as long as she remained unmarried.
Letters recovered from the crash had explanatory slips placed in them and were forwarded if possible.
This letter salvaged from Air Mail airplane which
was destroyed by fire at Rock Springs, Wyoming, May 5, 1921
POSTMASTER, Cheyenne, Wyoming
|
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