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Nile Kinnick airplane crash correspondence, 1943-1972

1946-06-06: Page 01

FIGHTING SQUADRON SIXTEEN 
c/o Fleet Post Office
New York, New York 
June 6, 1943
My dear Mr. and Mrs. Kinnick,
It is with deepest regret and sympathy that I inform you of 
the loss of your son, Nile, in an airplane crash on the second of June 1943. Nile was engaged in a practice flight that took off from the U.S.S. LEXINGTON about eight-thirty on the morning of the second of June and remained with his flight until he was forced to land in the water about an hour and twenty minutes later. His plane developed a serious oil leak about ten minutes before he landed. Having lost all oil the engine, without lubrication, failed, forcing Nile to land in the water. Nile made a normal unhurried water landing in calm water about four miles ahead and in full view of the ship. Both the Lexington and the plane guard boat proceeded directly to the scene of the landing, which had been kept under constant observation, both from the air and from the ship, and was further definitely identified as being the exact location by gasoline and paint chips in the water, arriving at the spot about 8 minutes later. A diligent and immediate search of the exact location of the landing and the adjacent water, by both planes and ships, failed to reveal any trace whatever of Nile. Since Nile was definitely not on the surface of the water eight minutes after he landed and at no time for the next hour and a half, it must be presumed that he drowned. Knowing Nile to be a very good swimmer, an excellent athlete, and in wonderful physical condition, it is inconceivable that he could have failed to remain afloat for the short period of time required for the crash boat to arrive unless he had been seriously hurt in the landing itself. I would like to emphasise the fact that there can be no doubt whatever that the exact spot of Nile's landing was very thoroughly searched both by ships and planes immediately following the landing. A water landing is normally a relatively safe landing, especially under conditions of calm water. There is small probability of serious injury in such a landing. It is very difficult to understand just what could have gone wrong. The best guess, and it is nothing more than a guess, is that his safety belt broke on landing allowing Nile to lurch forward upon impact probably striking his head on the structure of the airplane and injuring him to the extent that he could neither maintain himself afloat nor remember to inflate his life jacket. Nile was an outstanding man in every respect. His calm and determined manner, his quick grin, his sound common sense, and his outstanding all around abilities made him a wonderful asset to the squadron and a man that we were all proud to call our friend. His loss was a terrible blow to all of us and a serious loss to the country he so ably served.

Saving...

FIGHTING SQUADRON SIXTEEN c/o Fleet Post Office New York, New York June 6, 1943 My dear Mr. and Mrs. Kinnick, It is with deepest regret and sympathy that I inform you of the loss of your son, Nile, in an airplane crash on the second of June 1943. Nile was engaged in a practice flight that took off from the U.S.S. LEXINGTON about eight-thirty on the morning of the second of June and remained with his flight until he was forced to land in the water about an hour and twenty minutes later. His plane developed a serious oil leak about ten minutes before he landed. Having lost all oil the engine, without lubrication, failed, forcing Nile to land in the water. Nile made a normal unhurried water landing in calm water about four miles ahead and in full view of the ship. Both the Lexington and the plane guard boat proceeded directly to the scene of the landing, which had been kept under constant observation, both from the air and from the ship, and was further definitely identified as being the exact location by gasoline and paint chips in the water, arriving at the spot about 8 minutes later. A diligent and immediate search of the exact location of the landing and the adjacent water, by both planes and ships, failed to reveal any trace whatever of Nile. Since Nile was definitely not on the surface of the water eight minutes after he landed and at no time for the next hour and a half, it must be presumed that he drowned. Knowing Nile to be a very good swimmer, an excellent athlete, and in wonderful physical condition, it is inconceivable that he could have failed to remain afloat for the short period of time required for the crash boat to arrive unless he had been seriously hurt in the landing itself. I would like to emphasise the fact that there can be no doubt whatever that the exact spot of Nile's landing was very thoroughly searched both by ships and planes immediately following the landing. A water landing is normally a relatively safe landing, especially under conditions of calm water. There is small probability of serious injury in such a landing. It is very difficult to understand just what could have gone wrong. The best guess, and it is nothing more than a guess, is that his safety belt broke on landing allowing Nile to lurch forward upon impact probably striking his head on the structure of the airplane and injuring him to the extent that he could neither maintain himself afloat nor remember to inflate his life jacket. Nile was an outstanding man in every respect. His calm and determined manner, his quick grin, his sound common sense, and his outstanding all around abilities made him a wonderful asset to the squadron and a man that we were all proud to call our friend. His loss was a terrible blow to all of us and a serious loss to the country he so ably served.