At 4:40 PM, May 7, 1944, a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber, on route
from Newark NJ to Kissimmee FL ran into heavy rain and hail over
West Chester and crashed on the western edge of Oaklands Cemetery
in a huge explosion and fire ball, killing all seven occupants of
the plane.
In later years a monument was erected in the cemetery to honor
those killed (located at N39d 58.711, W075d 37.201). Stop by and
pay your respects to these men who gave their lives in the service
of our country.
The cache is a green ammo box that contains a log, various items
for trade and copies of the May 8, 1944 Daily Local News report of
this gristly incident. Please feel free to take a copy of the
report.
NOTE: Oaklands Cemetery is located right next to St.
Agnes Cemetery (don't get mixed up) and is open to the public
year-long from dawn to dusk. Drive slowly through the area and do
not drive off the roads. Feel free to wander through the area on
foot. If you have time check out the "Tree Grave" located close to
the cache at N39d 58.817 W075d 37.274.
Please let me know if the print outs from the Daily Local
have run out so that I can replenish them. If you are interested in
having the reprint file just email me.
Thanks to Vartan84 for informing me of two noted individuals
buried on either side of the cache location. Author Joseph
Hergesheimer of Philadelphia and West Chester native and composer
Samuel Barber. Information can be found on both at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Barber and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hergesheimer. Thanks again to
Vartan84 for adding to this cache listing.
Should there be no reprints in the cache, feel free to email me and
ask for an electronic copy.