1957 — Dec 9, USN P5M Marlin Seaplane engine explosion/crash, ~Corpus Christi, TX– 9

–9 Aransas Pass Progress, TX. “Nine Navy Men Die Monday in Plane Crash.” 12-12-1957, p1.
–9 Paris News, TX. “Seaplane Crash Fatal to Nine.” 12-10-1957, p. 1.
–8 Corpus Christi Times. “Plane Crash Kills 8 Navy Men Near Reynolds Plant.” 12-9-1957, 1.

Narrative Information

Dec 9: “Eight members of a nine-man Navy crew were killed at about 9:44 a.m. today when their two-engine P5M ‘Marlin’ seaplane burst into flames in the air and crashed five miles north of the San Patricio Reynolds Metals Co. Plant.” (Corpus Christi Times. “Plane Crash Kills 8 Navy Men Near Reynolds Plant.” 12-9-1957, p. 1.)

Dec 10: “Nine Navy crew members of a P-5-M seaplane died and one parachuted to safety when the twin-engine plane burst into flames and crashed near Corpus Christi, Tex. ….

“Corpus Christi (AP) – A Navy seaplane plunged to the ground in flames yesterday after an engine exploded and blew a wing off. Nine of the 10 men aboard were killed. The body of the ninth victim was found after darkness last night. Storekeeper Sam Gariffo parachuted to safety, but was badly burned and in shock.

“The ship was based at San Diego, Calif. It was en route to Baltimore, Md., and stopped at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station to refuel. It took off and started trailing smoke.” (Paris News, TX. “Seaplane Crash Fatal to Nine.” 12-10-1957, p. 1.)

Dec 12: “Nine Navy men met death about 9:30 A.m. Monday when a P5M plane crashed in flames on the McCampbell ranch about two miles north of Highway 35. The plane, out of San Diego, Calif., had left the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station only minutes earlier. One lone survivor bailed out shortly before the plane crashed a few hundred yards from an oil rig which is drilling a test for A. C. Sien and F. William Carr. Engine trouble developed after the plane took the air and the pilot is believed to have been attempting to return to Corpus Christi Bay for an emergency landing when an engine exploded as the plane spun to earth scattering debris over a wide area. The Aransas Pass fire department was one of the first to reach the crash scene and aided in removing the bodies and extinguishing the burning plane.

“The survivor is Sam Gariffo, 30, of San Diego, Calif.

“The list of dead included [We break paragraph into separate lines.]

Lt. Comdr. James N. Sofield,
Lt. (jg) H. D. Dickerson,
Lt. (jg) R. W. Bruner, Jr.,
J.J. Lanna,
P. Faircloth,
Karl B. Dumler,
R. Kierman,
D. E. Kwas and
Carl P. Renn.”

(Aransas Pass Progress, TX. “Nine Navy Men Die Monday in Plane Crash.” 12-12-1957, p.1.)

Sources

Aransas Pass Progress, TX. “Nine Navy Men Die Monday in Plane Crash.” 12-12-1957, p.1. Accessed 2-23-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/aransas-pass-progress-dec-12-1957-p-1/

Corpus Christi Times, TX. “Plane Crash Kills 8 Navy Men Near Reynolds Plant.” 12-9-1957, p. 1. Accessed 10-9-2012: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=85762237

Paris News, TX. “Seaplane Crash Fatal to Nine.” 12-10-1957, p. 1. Accessed 10-10-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=113002524