Introduction
When the engine of this C-119 Flying Boxcar began to burn, the pilot attempted to make an emergency
landing at a narrow parade field at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina on March 30, 1954. According to reports,
"The huge troop carrier, listing badly from a burning engine, came roaring over the crowded "Smoke Bomb
Hill" troop area at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, struck the top of an officer's barracks, and skidded
across the parade grounds into the mess hall. The plane exploded into flames and it was nearly two
hours before firemen could bring under control the blaze that swept the building."*
The plane struck the roof of the bachelor's officers quarters and its tail section was torn loose.
The plane glided part of the way across the 150-yard wide parade field and then skidded about 100 feet into
the mess hall. Seven men were killed and ten others were injured. If the plane had crashed two
hours later, about 200 men would have been eating lunch in the mess hall. To add photographs or
information to this page of the KWE, contact Lynnita Brown, 111 E. Houghton St., Tuscola, IL 61953; ph.
217-253-4620 (home) or 253-5171 (store); e-mail lynnita@thekwe.org.
*[Source: Aiken Standard and Review, South Carolina, 1954-03-31]
Table of Contents:
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C-119 Crew
Fatalities:
- Parks, 1Lt. Albert W. (pilot), Channelton, Indiana, 25 years of age - US Air Force, died
later in hospital
- Short, Airman 1c Rudolph Valentino, Stewart AFB, Smyrna, Tennessee - US Air Force, passenger,
missing after the crash
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Injuries:
- Angeloff, CWO William, 39 years of age, passenger on the plane, critically injured
- Fitzsimmons, 1Lt. Raymond (co-pilot) - US Air Force
- Salisbury, Pvt. Ralph E., 18 years of age - passenger on the plane, critically injured
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Survivor:
- Snyder, Airman 1c Eugene R., 23 years of age, (flight engineer) - He was the only crew member
to walk away from the plane. He was from Donelson, Tennessee.
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Ft. Bragg Mess Hall
Fatalities:
- Dervan, Cpl. Robert, 21 years of age - US Army, attached to 82nd Airborne Division
Quartermaster Company
- Greenlee, Cpl. Donald F., 22 years of age - US Army, attached to the Psychological Warfare
Center
- Macre, Pvt. 1c James A., 22 years of age - US Army, attached to Psychological Warfare Center
- Marin, Pvt. Albert G. Jr., 20 years of age - US Army, attached to 82nd Airborne Division
Quartermaster Company
- Palmer, Cpl. Osman S., 23 years of age - US Army, attached to 82nd Airborne Division
Quartermaster Company
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Injuries:
- Clay, Sgt. Henry C. - US Army, in the mess hall at the time of the accident, critically
injured
- Cook, Pfc. William
- Ellison, Pfc. Edward
- Ross, Edward A.
- Shirley, Capt. Charles L. - rushed to the crash scene, was burned about the hands and arms
aiding in rescue efforts
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Eyewitness Accounts
Katz, Lt. Col. B.A.
"It appeared unbelievable that anyone could have survived, either in the plane or in the mess hall.
The pilot did a heroic thing trying to avoid hitting a barracks and in attempting to land in the open
parade ground, thus saving as many lives as possible."
Snyder, Airman 1C Eugene R.
"The pilot told me to go back and tell the men to get ready to jump. When I got out of my seat
I noticed we were very low. I asked if we were too low. About that time something hit.
I looked out the window and saw a telephone pole go by and hit the left wing. Then I ducked down
behind the pilot's seat, put my head down, and rode it out."
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Heroism
- Blais, Sgt. 1c Ronald V.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 61 - August 18, 1954
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes
pleasure in presenting the Solderi's Medal to Sergeant First Class Ronald V. Blais, United States Army,
for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 77th
Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 30 March 1954. While en route
to the First-Sergeant's call, he observed a C-119 aircraft crash into a mess hall building in the area
of 77th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Sergeant Blais immediately ran to the scene of the crash
and, with complete disregard for his personal safety, entered the burning wreckage to assist in removing
other injured personnel, and to fight the fire until it was under control. The prompt and
courageous action of Sergeant Blais undoubtedly saved the lives
of injured personnel and reflects great credit on himself and
the military service.
- Estes, Cpl. Robert A.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 61 - August 18, 1954
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in
presenting the Soldier's Medal to Corporal Robert A. Estes, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not
involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Headquarters, 724th Special Forces Group, Airborne, at Fort
Bragg, North Carolina, on 30 March 1954. A C-119 aircraft crashed into a mess hall in the area of 77th Special
Forces Group, Airborne, trapping the plane crew and mess personnel in the wreckage. Corporal Estes, who was working
in an area nearby, heard the crash and immediately ran to the scene of the accident. With complete disregard for his
personal safety, Corporal Estes entered the burning aircraft and rescued the injured pilot. Again, with no thought
of his personal safety, he reentered the wreckage and assisted in the rescue of the copilot. Hearing a scream from
the left side of the aircraft, Corporal Estes immediately crawled under the wreckage in an attempt to rescue the
injured person: however he was driven back by the intense smoke and flames. Corporal Estes then manned a fire hose,
and again entered the aircraft in an effort to prevent the flames from reaching the fuel tank which contained
approximately one thousand gallons of gasoline. The heroism displayed by Corporal Estes in the face of grave danger
reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
- Maggio, SFC Alan B.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 72 - September 30, 1954
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act
of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the
Soldier's Medal to Sergeant First Class Alan B. Maggio (ASN:
RA-12262338), United States Army, for heroism at the risk of
life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of
the 77th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina, on 30 March 1954. While in his unit supply room, he
heard a loud crash. Running out he observed that a C-119
aircraft had crashed into a mess hall building in the area.
Realizing the possibilities of an explosion, he first tried to
warn personnel away from the area. With complete disregard for
his personal safety, he then ran into the flaming wreckage to
assist in the rescue of injured personnel. He remained until all
personnel had been removed and the fire was completely under
control. Sergeant First Class Maggio's prompt and courageous
action was instrumental in saving lives of injured personnel and
reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
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Biographies of Those Who Died
Dervan, Cpl. Robert
Born January 26, 1933 in Macon, Georgia, he was the son of Albert Russell Dervan. He is buried
in Riverside Cemetery, Albany, Georgia.
Greenlee, Cpl. Donald F.
Born December 02, 1931, Corporal Greenlee was from Albion, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Spring
Cemetery, Springboro, Pennsylvania.
Macre, Pvt. 1c James A.
Private Macre was from Bonnie Doon, North Carolina and Creekside, Pennsylvania.
Marin, Pvt. Albert G. Jr.
Private Marin was from Wampole, Massachusetts.
Palmer, Cpl. Osman S.
Corporal Palmer was from Locke Mills, Maine. His wife was Vivian A. Chayer Palmer. They
were parents of children Herman E. Palmer (1939-2015), Francis Palmer, Elizabeth Palmer Bailey, Rose
Palmer Batchelder, and Eunice Palmer Hathaway. Their three daughters are now deceased.
Parks, 1Lt. Albert William -
Born February 28, 1929, Lieutenant Parks was the son of Albert B. Parks (1905-1995) and Pauline Cox
Parks (1908-1998). He was the brother of Jean Parks Carr and Jewell Parks Young. Albert is
buried in New Cliff Cemetery, Cannelton, Indiana.
Short, Airman 1c Rudolph Valentino
Born August 18, 1930, Airman Short enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on June 14, 1952. He is
buried in Hampton and Back Cemetery, Letcher, Kentucky.
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