Plane Crash Killed 6 Brave Men at West Palm Beach

In a crash of light at 8:39am on 20 November 1942 a small Lockhead A28a number 42-47221 aircraft crashed, killing all 6 passengers aboard. The plane took off, at Morrison Field, and proceeded to climb at a steadily increasing angle until a power stall resulted at an angle in excess of 60 degrees and constantly approaching vertical at an altitude greater than 200 feet and less than 300 feet. The plane seemed to stall and then fell off at left wing, apparently out of control and fell almost vertical to the ground, where the fuel tanks exploded and aircraft burned. No parts or other objects were seen to fall from the aircraft during the take-off run.  By the time the aircraft was reached by persons on the ground, all the occupants were dead, five of the six bodies having been thrown from the airplane as a result of the crash.

A study of various parts of the airplane afterwards, concluded that there were no irregularities with any of the planes controls or equipment, which would have contributed to the cause the of the crash, except the elevator trim control was found to be the in the nose up position. The position of the elevator trim control as well as the cable spool attached to the cock pit control pedestal, which were inspected on the crashed plane, were found to be identical to another airplane of the same type which was inspected, after having the elevator control tabs turned to extreme nose-up position. Investigation revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or sabotage.

It appeared from the position of the elevator trim tab and its control lever, after the crash, that the position of the trim tab during take off may have been associated with the cause of the accident. The exact cause of this accident is unknown.

1st Lieutenant, James Cary Cunningham, pilot

12 November 1914 - 20 November 1942

James was born to Henry and Mattie (Sparks) Cunningham in Texline, Texas. He was living in Fort Worth, Texas before entering into the Air Force.

James was survived by his parents; brothers, Jack and Kenneth; and sister, Rosemary. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. 

Staff Sergeant, Emmett Albert Herbst, co-pilot

26 April 1919 - 20 November 1942

Emmett was born to Adolph and Mildred (Mauntel) Herbst in Benton County, Minnesota. He attended grade school in District #9 Benton County, Minnesota. He went to Foley High School the first year, then attended the Starbuck High School where he graduated in 1938.

Emmett joined the National Guards Hdq. Battery Division in Princeton, Minnesota. On 27 November 1940 he was quartered in the Princeton Armory. In March they left for Camp Clairborne, Louisiana.

He was transferred to the Air Corps and graduated Wednesday, 5 August 1942 at Spence Field, Moultrie, Georgia. He was assigned to the 4th Ferrying Group, 29th Ferrying Squadron, Nashville, Tennessee.

Emmett was survived by his parents; sister, Aletha; brothers, Basil, Alan, Lorenz, & Gene. He is buried in the family lot on St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery, Duelm, Minnesota. Only one week before, he had returned from a secret mission in Asia. The Princeton Legion Post 216 bears his name.

2nd Lieutenant, Elbert Muir Garton, navigator

28 June 1918-20 November 1942

Elbert was born to Elbert and Sarah (Muir) Garton in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He attended night classes at the University of Pennsylvania and wrote for the student newspaper. He also worked at Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing for a time in Pittsburgh. On 27 January 1942 he enlisted in the Air Corps.

Elbert married his sweetheart, Helen Margaret McElroy on 2 July 1942 in Coral Gables, Dade County, Florida. He was stationed in Florida at the time.

In his almost year of service he had made trips to India and Indo-China.

Elbert was survived by his parents; a sister, Priscilla; and brother, Walter. He is buried in Monongahela Cemetery, North Braddock, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Corporal, James Clinton Beeson, engineer

18 May 1918 - 20 November 1942

James was born to Jeffery and Ruth (Burns) Beeson in Imperial County, California. He attended Brawley schools and after helped his father on the family ranch in Rosedale, California prior to his enlistment.

He enlisted in the Air Corps on 29 August 1941 at Camp Wallace, Texas. 

One week prior to the crash, James announced his engagement to Lillian Cundiff of St. Louis, Missouri. 

James was survived by his fiancee, Lillian Cundiff; his parents; a sister, Irene; and a brother, Jack. He is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery and Mortuary, Bakersfield, Kern County, California.

Sergeant, Francis Henry Brady, radio operator

25 April 1921 - 20 November 1942

Francis, or Frank, was born to Earl and Dorothy (Breighner) Brady in Pennsylvania. He attended Catholic schools for elementary and high school and later graduated from Marist College in South Langhorne, Pennsylvania. 

He had entered the service 14 January 1942 and had attended radio school. By fall of 1942, he had already flown overseas twice to deliver bombers to Russia and India. One week before the accident he was on a furlough to visit his family. Frank was known to be clean-cut, modest, and admirable.

Frank was buried in Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery, Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was survived by his parents; sisters, Margaret, Angela, Mary Ann, Pauline, Mary; and brothers, Joseph, Richard, Edward, Alfred, Earl, James, and Andrew.

Staff Sergeant, Frederick Benjamin Sutor, passenger

4 December 1920 - 20 November 1942

Frederick, was born to Ferdinand and Theresa (Stroh) Sutor in Queens, New York. He was living with his family in St. Albans, Long Island, New York.

Frederick was survived by his parents, and brother, Wilbur Sutor.

Sylvester John Botz timeline

Sylvester John Botz

28 April 1910 was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota to Conrad Francis Botz and Theresa Elizabeth Dinkel

8 July 1911 brother, Raymond Fredrick Botz, was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

31 May 1914 brother, Lawrence Francis Botz, was born in Freeport, Stearns County, Minnesota

2 August 1916 sister, Lauretta Theresa Botz, was born in Freeport, Stearns County, Minnesota

6 June 1918 brother, Norbert Louis Botz, was born in Freeport, Stearns County, Minnesota

1920 Sylvester lives with his parents, Conrad and Theresa, and his siblings, Margaret, Raymond, Lawrence, Loretta, and Norbert in Sauk Centre Ward 1, Stearns County, Minnesota

26 September 1920 sister, Ruth Marie Botz, was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

7 June 1922 brother, Conrad George Botz, was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

20 July 1924 brother, Richard Peter Botz, was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

1930 Sylvester lives with his parents, Conrad and Theresa, and his siblings, Raymond, Lawrence, Loretta, Norbert, Ruth, Conrad Jr., and Richard in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

28 October 1933 sister, Margaret Botz, married Clarence William Goude

15 October 1935 in Meire Grove, Stearns County, Minnesota married Marina Veronica Meyer

18 August 1937 daughter, Rosalyn Imelda Botz, was born in Greenwald, Stearns County, Minnesota

19 February 1939 daughter, Carolyn Theresa Botz, was born in Greenwald, Stearns County, Minnesota

1940 Sylvester lives with his wife, Marina and two daughters Rosalyn and Carolyn in Greenwald, Grove Township, Stearns County, Minnesota. He was employed in the “truck business”

3 January 1942 sister, Lauretta Botz, married Julius Edward Korf in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

2 November 1943 brother, Norbert Botz, married Irene Evelyn Thompson in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

7 July 1945 brother, Raymond Botz, married Abbie Mae Wood in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

12 January 1946 sister, Ruth Botz, married Basil Adolph Herbst in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

11 May 1946 brother Richard Botz, married Veronica Kathrine Lais in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

30 April 1949 brother, Conrad Botz, married Evelyn Mary Schieffer in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

3 June 1956 daughter, Rosalyn, married Douglas Sherman Carter

2 September 1956 granddaughter, Patricia Kay Carter, was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

13 August 1957 granddaughter, Susan Marie Carter, was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

14 July 1959 grandson, Robert Douglas Carter, was born in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

15 May 1960 brother-in-law, Julius Korf, died in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota

1963 brother, Conrad and his wife, Evelyn divorce

19 September 1963 father, Conrad Francis Botz, died in Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

30 August 1969 brother, Conrad Botz, married Beverly Jeanne Haugberg

2 December 1972 brother-in-law, Clarence Goude died in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

17 January 1976 son-in-law, Douglas Carter, died in Stearns County, Minnesota

11 March 1977 granddaughter, Susan Carter, married Vernon Kittleson

21 February 1979 mother, Theresa Elizabeth (Dinkel) Botz, died in Morris, Stevens County, Minnesota

16 November 1985 granddaughter, Patricia Carter, married Carl McVinney

17 October 1990 brother, Raymond Botz, died in Long Prairie, Todd County, Minnesota

3 April 1992 died in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota at the age of 81

Martin Herbst in the Census

1860 US Census, Jennings County, population schedule, Spencer, 278, Family 742, Anthony Speck and family (including Martin Herbst), digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com, 23 February 2013, Roll: M653_271.

In the 1860 US Census Martin Herbst appears in the same household as his Uncle, Anthony Speck and his wife Catharine Speck in Jennings County, Indiana. Anthony was a farmer and Martin was listed as an "apprentice".

Name, age, gender, occupation, place of birth
Anthony Speck, 46, male, farmer, Baden
Catharine Speck, 43, female, France
Jacob Smith, 24, male, Laborer, France
Martin Herbst, 21, male, apprentice, Baden
Frank Link, 10, male, apprentice, Indiana

1875 Minnesota State Census, Benton County, St. George Township, family 29, line 6, Martin Herbst and family. Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Name, age, gender, color, place of birth, place of birth of father, place of birth of mother


Martin Herbst, 40, m, w, Germany, Germany, Germany
Caroline Herbst, 22, f, w, Germany, Germany, Germany
Joseph Herbst, 2, m, w, Min, Germany, Germany
Carl Herbst, 0, m, w, Min, Germany, Germany

1880 US Census, Saint George Township, Benton County, Minnesota, population schedule, page 170D, Dwelling 80, Family 82, Martin Herbst and family, Digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com, 22 August 2013. Roll 615

In the 1880 US Census, Martin appears with his wife, Caroline and their three sons in Benton County, Minnesota.

Name, color, gender, age, relation, occupation, place of birth, father's place of birth, mother's place of birth
Martin Herbst, white, male, 36, farmer, Baden, Baden, Baden
Caroline Herbst, white, female, 35, wife, keeping house, Prussia, Prussia, Prussia
Joseph C., white, male, 8, son, Minnesota, Baden, Prussia
Charles J., white, male, 5, son, Minnesota, Baden, Prussia
Albert F., white, male, 2, son, Minnesota, Baden, Prussia

1885 MN State Census, Saint George Township, Benton County, MN, line 29, Martin Herbst and family. Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

In the 1885 Minnesota State Census, Martin appears with his wife, Caroline, and their children in Benton County, Minnesota

Name, age, gender, color, place of birth
Martin Herbst,40, m, w, Germany
Caroline Herbst, 31, f, w, Germany
Joseph Herbst, 12, m, w, U.S.
Charles Herbst, 10, m, w, U.S.
Albert Herbst, 8, m, w, U.S.
Clara Herbst, 2, f, w, U.S.
Havier Diderick, 40, m, w, Canada

1895 MN State Census, St. George Township, Benton County family 5, Martin Herbst and family. Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007

Martin Herbst, 51, m, w, Germany, 30, 26, Farmer, 12, yes, yes, no
Caroline Herbst, 42, f, w, Germany, 24, 24, yes, yes, no
Joseph Herbst, 23, m, w, Minn, 23, 23, Farmer, yes, yes, no
Charles, Herbst, 20, m, w, Minn, 20, 20, yes, yes, no
Albert Herbst, 18, m, w, Minn, 18, 18, yes, yes, no
Adolph Herbst, 15, m, w, Minn, 15, 15, yes, yes, no
Clara Herbst, 13, f, w, Minn, 13, 13, yes, yes, no
William Herbst, 9, m, w, Minn, 9, 9, yes, yes, yes
Elma Herbst, 3, f, w, Minn, 3, 3, yes, yes, no

1900 U.S. census, Benton County, Minnesota, population schedule, Saint George Township, 1B, dwelling 13, family 13, Martin Herbst and family, digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com, accessed 22 February 2008, citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 757.

Name, relation, color, gender, birth date, age, marital status, years married,  number of children, number of living children, father's place of birth, mother's place of birth, place of birth, year immigrated, number of years in US, citizen status, occupation, can read, can write, can speak English, own or rent, free or morgaged, farm or house, number on farm schedule

Martin Herbst, head, white, male, Nov 1844, 55, married, 28 years, Germany, Germany, Germany, 1853, 46 years, naturalized, farmer, yes, yes, yes, own, free, farm, 14

Carline Herbst, wife, white, female, March 1854, 45, married, 28 years, 7, 7, Germany, Germany, Germany, 1870, 30, yes, yes, yes

Charly J. Herbst, son, white, male, Dec 1874, 25, single, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, yes, yes, yes

Albert Herbst, son, white, male, Sept 1876, 23, single, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, yes, yes, yes

Adolphus Herbst, son, white, male, July 1880, 19, single, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, yes, yes, yes

William Herbst, son, white, male, Jan 1886, 13, single, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, Germany, at school, yes, yes, yes

Clara Herbst, daughter, white, female, Apr 1882, 17, single, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, Germany

Alma Herbst, daughter, white, female, June 1892, 7, single, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, Germany, at school, yes, yes, yes

1905 MN State Census, St. George Township, Benton County lines 32-39, Martin Herbst and family. Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Name, gender, age, color, place of birth, place of father's birth, place of mother's birth, number of years-months in state, number of years-months in ED, occupation
Martin Herbst, m, 62, white, Germany, Germany, Germany, 37, Farmer
Caroline Herbst, f, 51, white, Germany, Germany, Germany, 34
Charley Herbst, m, 29, white, Minn, Germany, Germany, 5, 29, 5, Day Laborer
Albert Herbst, m, 26, white, Minn, Germany, Germany, 8, 26, 8, Farm Laborer
Adolph Herbst, m, 25, white, Minn, Germany, Germany, 10, 25, 10, Farm Laborer
Clara Herbst, f, 21, white, Minn, Germany, Germany, 21, 1, 21, 1
Willie Herbst, m, 19, white, Minn, Germany, Germany, 19, 4, 19, 4, Farm Laborer
Alma Herbst, f, 12, white, Minn, Germany, Germany, 12, 11, 12, 11

1910 US Census, St. George Township, Benton County, Minnesota, population schedule, Roll: T624_690, Page 2A, dwelling 24, family 24, Martin Herbst and family, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com, 23 August 2013.

Name, relation, gender, color, age, marital status, years married, place of birth, place of father's birth, place of mother's birth, immigration year, immigration status, language spoken at home, occupation, can read, can write, has been to school in the last year, own or rent, free or morgage, house or farm, number on farm schedule

Martin Herbst, head, male, white, 65, m1, 39, Germany, Germany, Germany, 1853, Na, English, own income, yes, yes, own, free, house

Caroline Herbst, wife, female, white, 55, m1, 39, 7, 7, Germany, Germany, Germany, 1870, English, none, yes, yes

William Herbst, son, male, white, 24, single, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, English, Farmer General Farm, OA, yes, yes, 23

Alma Herbst, daughter, female, white, 17, singles, Minnesota, Germany, Germany, English, none, yes, yes, no