Clearfield County PA Archives - Newspaper: Dore, Raymond killed in plane crash, Jul 1924 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Steve Fisher, , Feb 2009 Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ ________________________________________________ http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/news/dore-raymond-crash.txt Transcribed from the Clearfield Progress, Clearfield PA, Monday, 21 Jul 1924: Page 1 JANESVILLE AVIATORS BURNED TO DEATH Close and Dorr, Amateur Flyers, Fall 200 Feet in Flaming Machine Dorr Bought Machine a Week Ago and Made Number of Successful Flights about County. Close Passenger That aeronautics have not progressed to the point in this country where amateur flyers can afford to take a chance without attendant grave danger and the taking of a dangerous chance, was demonstrated near Janesville, this county, Sunday evening about 5 o'clock, when the recently purchased airplane of Ray Dorr, a popular Janesville boy, caught fire when but about two hundred feet in the air and plumped to the ground, near the farm home of H. E. Fulkson. The plane was being driven by Ray Dorr, who had William Close, aged 24, and chauaffeur for Mrs. E. J. Mountz, with him as a passanger. Both men were killed. Young Dorr, who is about 26 years of age, is a nephew of Mrs. E. J. Mountz, the Gulich township coal operator. Before acquiring the machine the young man went to the school flying field maintained by the Glenn Curtis Corporation and received a six month course in aeronautics and returned for a three month course just previous to the delivery of the machine. The machine, said to be a Curtis standard, made for army service, was purchased at a cost of $2,100, we are informed, and was delivered to Dorr at Janesville by a Curtis demonstrator about two weeks ago. Saturday afternoon young Dorr was up in the machine and flew over Houtzdale. While flying over that town and when several hundred feet in the air spectators say the machine dipped and volplaned down to within one hundred feet of the ground, when the engine, which had apparently shut off, was heard to start again and the machine glided up and off through the air. Those who witnessed the stunt give it as their opinion now, that there was something wrong with the plane or the pilot's handling of the same. Sunday evening young Dorr arranged to give his friend R. L.O'Donnell, former Clearfielder a trip through the air, but when O'Donnell, who was detained at his home [illegible] arrive at the flying field on the Mountsbaugh farm at the appointed time, Close was given the opportunity to make the trip. [He] was strapped into the seat behind the pilot and right up against the gasoline tank, while Dorr took his place as pilot. Within a few seconds after the plane took the air, it was seen to be afire and according to the story of Pilot Dorr, who lived about one hour after the accident, Close seized the rear or safety control and turned the machine's nose toward the ground as the (Continued on Page Two) **************************************************************************** Page 2 Janesville Aviators (Continued from Page One) gas [fire] blazed up. The flames enveloped Close on the instant and when it was [illegible] to remove his remains from the wrecked machine it was found his head, legs and arms had been burned completely off. Dorr was thrown or alighted about twenty feet from the burning plane and was conscious for a time following his experience. He was badly burned in addition to the injuries received in the fall from the machine. He was picked up at once and hurried to the Cottage State hospital at Philipsburg, but his death occurred about the time the hospital was reached. The accident has caused a pall of [genuine sorrow] to settle over the Janesville country, where both victims of the horrible accident were born and raised and numbered the whole community as their warm [illegible]. Dorr was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dorr, the father being a brother of Mrs. Mountz, while Close was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Close. The young men were particularly close and real friends. Funeral arrangements have not been completed thus far. The unfortunate occurance, in addition to being a heart-crushing blow to the families of both young men, was also a doubly sad blow to Mrs. Mountz. Ray Dorr was her favorite [nephew], while Close, whom she had known from childhood, had been her chauaffer for some time and drove her car to Cleveland at the time of the Republican national convention. She opposed the buying of the plane and on Saturday cautioned Close against risking his life in it. [illegible] also said that young Dorr's sister saw the accident in a dream on Saturday evening and that both the sister and his mother prevailed upon him not to attempt the fatal flight Sunday evening, but he laughed at their fears and gaily embarked on the trip which ended so quickly and so disastrously.