1. Copy of Newspaper article, no date, heading reads: Flier Lives after fall of 2,500 feet

Christmas may well be celebrated as Thanksgiving day by E. Buckingham, Aviation MM3c, of the cruiser Salt Lake City, for the fleet air base man is living proof that a flier can be tumbled out of a plane 2,500 feet up and still live.

Buckingham catapulted out of a seaplane 20 miles off Pearl Harbor last December 16th, jerked open his parachute and came safely to rest on the ocean 2,500 feet below, naval authorities revealed yesterday.

He was picked up by his pilot, Aviation Cadet R. G. Fussell, naval reserve flier off the Salt Lake City, who set the plane in the water to pick up his erstwhile aerial companion who proved to be all wet, but otherwise none the worse for his long dive.

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2. Copy of USS SLC Press News, Thur. 31, March, No year, heading reads:
Navy-Bomber Lost Off Oahi-5 Missing

Honolulu:
A Navy Bomber engaged in maneuvers and manned by a crew of seven, fell into the ocean one hundred yards offshore near Kaina Point today (Wed.).

Five men were missing. Two men swam ashore through a rough wind-swept sea.

G. H. Nilles, Radioman 3c, swam ashore and notified the Naval Commandants office of the accident. Later, H. F. Bartz was washed ashore. He was unconscious.

The missing were L. O. Crane, Pilot;  W. H. Lear, Aviation Cadet, USNR;  B. I. Windham, Naval Air Pilot;  G. H. O'Neill, Aviation Ordnanceman 1c;  and V. A. Luciano, Radioman 2c

The plane was a twin motored PBY patrol bomber type of the newest design. The crash occurred shortly before daylight in heavy weather.

Navy officials said Nilles, Bartz and O'Neill were riding in the after cockpit. After the crash, they climbed out on the wings of the partially submerged plane and attempted to free the other crew members. They failed and started for shore. Nilles said he did not see O'Neill after they left the ship.

Note: An unsubstantiated report from a Honolulu broadcasting station announced that the body of O'Neill had been recovered.

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Heading: C85 V 202 ST.
Patrol Plane 6 Prep Ten reported down estimated position Lat TwentyXXX
Five Forty Two long Six One Twenty Five Be prepared to Use Seach Lights to cover space between ships 1700

From COMDESBATFOR to Salt Lake City

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