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William M. Skelley Sr.

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Birth	:	2 Oct 1903
Death	:	2 Oct 1930 La Vale, Allegany County, Maryland, USA
Burial	:	Saint Ambrose Catholic Cemetery, Cresaptown, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.5894270, -78.8325800
Description	:	Note: There may maybe a miss print in the News article of William M. Skelly age of death Three Dead After Plane Crash Here Three men are dead as the result of the first airplane crash in the immediate vicinity of Cumberland, which occurred late yesterday afternoon when the Challenger biplane operated by Wm. M. Skelly, 23, plunged to the ground while taking off from the Maryland airport on the McMullen Highway. It was Skelly's birthday. The dead are: William M. Skelly, Cresaptown, owner and pilot of the plane, who died at 7:35 p. m. in... Read More	Note: There may maybe a miss print in the News article of William M. Skelly age of death Three Dead After Plane Crash Here Three men are dead as the result of the first airplane crash in the immediate vicinity of Cumberland, which occurred late yesterday afternoon when the Challenger biplane operated by Wm. M. Skelly, 23, plunged to the ground while taking off from the Maryland airport on the McMullen Highway. It was Skelly's birthday. The dead are: William M. Skelly, Cresaptown, owner and pilot of the plane, who died at 7:35 p. m. in Allegany Hospital. Glendon L. Hoff, 24, of 722 Hill Top drive, who died in the hospital at 10:10 p. m. Frederick G. Lease, 33, of 214 Fulton street, who was dead when pulled from the machine. According to witnesses, the plane had just taken off and had traveled but about 500 yards when Skelly put the ship into a vertical bank, from which it went into a side slip and then into a nose dive. The plane crashed into a field on the Barton farm and burst into flames. The pilot and Hoff were thrown clear, but Lease was caught in the wreckage. Skelly and Hoff ran from the machine, their clothes blazing. Hoff collapsed after he had run into a barbed wire fence. Skelly ran toward the Baltimore and Ohio railroad track but collapsed in a gully. Both had attempted to beat out their flaming clothing. George Barton witnessed the crash and ran to the scene. Aided by his brother, Ferman Barton, N. S. Yoder of Pinto and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Summerfield, he placed the pilot and Hoff in his car and took them to Allegany Hospital. Both were so badly burned that their deaths were expected momentarily. Their clothing was burned from their bodies and Skelly's face was badly battered. Dr. Joseph P. Franklin, county and deputy state health officer, and Officer S. E. Phillips of the Maryland State Police arrived a few minutes after the crash. Dr. Franklin discovered that Lease was still in the burning plane. He took a tire cover - from his car and wrapping it about Lease, pulled him from the ship. Lease was burned to a crisp and dead. At the hospital Skelly was attended by Dr. James T. Johnson, Sr., and James T. Johnson, Jr. Hoff was attended by Dr. G. C. Blake. Hoff knew that he was dying and said goodbye to friends who called at the hospital. He was delirious when Floyd Jenkins and John ("Boots") Sapp came to see him. He said he wanted his collar loosened and when he felt that the end was near said, "Well, goodbye boys, I'm going." Hoff was perhaps the best known of the trio. He was formerly a sergeant and front guide in Company G, First Infantry, Maryland National Guard. He was regarded as a good soldier and was well liked by fellow members of the company. An investigation was started immediately by State's Attorney William A. Huster and other county authorities as well as Officer Philips. No inquest was deemed necessary. The body of Lease was not identified for several hours. Keys found near his body fitted the door to his room at the home of Hugh Stevenson, 214 Fulton street, where he boarded, and this garage. Skelly was one of perhaps a score of local aviators. He had been instructed in flying by William J. Johnson and Walter A. Coughenour, also local pilots. He purchased the plane April a year ago, and had over 200 hours of solo flying to his credit. He had a students' pilot's license. The crash was the worst in the history of the Cumberland area. Two U. S. Army fliers were burned to death more than a year ago when their plane crashed into the side of Little Savage Mountain, and another was killed a short time later, when he crashed at the intersection of the National Highway and the Meyersdale road. Both crashes were due to fog. Two Army fliers were injured, though not seriously, when a bombing plane crashed on the Baltimore and Ohio tracks near Roberts Station, several years ago. The field from which the plane took off was one of two near the city. It was opened last year by Harold W. Krimm and operated throughout the summer. An air circus, featured by the stunt flying of three Marine Corps fliers, was held there under the auspices of the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Local pilots differed as to the cause of the crash. It was said that the plane was in first class shape, but one pilot said this morning that he had flown it a little over two months ago, at which time a piston in the 90-horsepower Curtis OX motor had broken and cracked a cylinder. He said that he was able to make a forced landing and advised Skelly to rebuild the motor. He added that he understood that a new cylinder and piston had been fitted but that the motor had not been rebuilt and was not turning up sufficient revolutions to be considered air-worthy. A Department of Commerce inspector is expected here today to investigate the crash and the above facts will be given him. All three men were married and had children. The pilot is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary Skelly, and seven small children. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 9 a. m. from St. Ambrose's Catholic Church, Cresaptown. Lease is survived by his wife, Mrs. Edith Lease, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben B. Lease, and by two small children. Surviving also are four brothers, Arlie T., Richard T., Mason and Frank Lease, and two sisters, Mrs. Clarence E. McKenzie and Miss Harriet Lease. Funeral services will be held at 9 a. m. tomorrow from the Cresaptown M. E. Church, with burial in the family plot at Dawson. Hoff is survived by his wife and one daughter, Nancy, by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Hoff; by three brothers, Robert A., Roy R., and Russell E., and by three sisters, Mrs. C F. Rice, Mrs. Charles Zimmerman and Miss Mildred Hoff. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. tomorrow from the home, 722 Hill Top Drive, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery, the Rev. H. Hall Sharp officiating. George Barton and Firman Barton, on whose farm the airport is located, were badly burned about the hands in tearing the few remnants of buring clothing from Hoff and Skelly. The two men with Richard Summerfield saw the plane crash and were about 250 feet from the hpot. They immediately started toward and were within fifty feet of the blazing ship when Hoff and Skelly emerged from it, groping blindly through the smoke and flames. Unable to reach Lease who was pinned in the cock-pit, the trio chased after Skelly and Lease and tore the burning clothing from them. The Bartons, who are brothers, suffered burns about the hands. Hoff had run along the fence and pieces of flesh were pulled from his body by the barbed wire. All his clothing except portions about his belt and shoes, were burned away. Skelly, whose eyes were burned out, ran a short distance from the plane and fell into a gully where the Bartons tried to aid him in whatever way they could. Summerfield, who is a World War veteran of this area, advanced the opinion that the men did not free themselves from plane but were dropped out when the bottom of the cockpit had burned away.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is William M. Skelley Sr.'s memorial?
William M. Skelley Sr.'s memorial is located at: Saint Ambrose Catholic Cemetery, Cresaptown, Allegany County, USA.
When did William M. Skelley Sr. death?
William M. Skelley Sr. death on 2 Oct 1930 in La Vale, Allegany County, Maryland, USA
Where are the coordinates of the William M. Skelley Sr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 39.5894270
Longitude: -78.8325800

Family Members:

Parent

John Harrison Skelley

(1882 - 1966)

Lottie Myrtle Chilcott Skelley

(1884 - 1923)

Spouse

Mary Frances Grant Skelley, Liller

(1903 - 1964)

Siblings

Mary S. Skelley Coddington

(1904 - 1994)

Carl A Skelley

(1906 - 1971)

James Melvin Skelley

(1911 - 1999)

Rosalie Elizabeth Skelley Misch

(1919 - 1998)

Alice A. Skelly

(1922 - 1935)

Children

PFC William M Skelley

(1923 - 1981)

Phyllis Louise Skelley Densock

(1930 - unknow)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Ambrose Catholic Cemetery
Cresaptown, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5894270, -78.8325800

2. Cresaptown United Methodist Church Cemetery
Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5925890, -78.8349130

3. Cecil Cemetery
Cresaptown, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5914600, -78.8449600

4. Cecil Cemetery
Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5915680, -78.8451080

5. Lease Cemetery #2
Cresaptown, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5895110, -78.8456840

6. Lease Cemetery
Cresaptown, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5910988, -78.8525009

7. McKenzie-Brewer Graveyard
Cresaptown, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6054710, -78.8383950

8. Pinto Mennonite Cemetery
Pinto, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5738900, -78.8423970

9. McKenzie Cemetery
Pinto, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5663643, -78.8298569

10. Lechliter-Monnett Cemetery
Short Gap, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5619100, -78.8013400

11. Moses McKenzie Cemetery
La Vale, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6260530, -78.8333660

12. Clise's Cemetery
Eckhart Mines, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6278700, -78.8597600

13. Abe Cemetery
Short Gap, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5722008, -78.7771988

14. Winter-Clise Cemetery
Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5983009, -78.8942032

15. Long Cemetery
Short Gap, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5458700, -78.8032000

16. Biertown Cemetery
Rawlings, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5486600, -78.8722460

17. Philip Abe Family Cemetery
Short Gap, Mineral County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5608500, -78.7751800

18. Loar Cemetery
Loarville, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6253014, -78.8867035

19. Warner Cemetery
Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6049995, -78.9019012

20. Vale Summit Methodist Cemetery
Vale Summit, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6205160, -78.9016950

21. Hutson Cemetery
Rawlings, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5343070, -78.8872620

22. Cresap Cemetery
Rawlings, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5341988, -78.8874969

23. Saint Marys Cemetery
Cumberland, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6030998, -78.7343979

24. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery
Cumberland, Allegany County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6547012, -78.7782974