The Republican | Ted LaBorde
Mark T. Perez shows just a small part of his collection of airplane parts and ammunition from a 1952 crash involving two Air Force F-86E Sabre fighter jets that collided during an air show over the then-Barnes Airport.
WESTFIELD – After years of research, Mark T. Perez is on a quest to raise an estimated $10,000 to construct a memorial honoring two Air Force pilots killed in a crash over Barnes Airport in 1952.
Perez, whose family owns East Mountain Country Club, is organizing two golf tournaments, one set for Sept. 19 and the other to be held next year, with proceeds aimed at preserving the memory of Lt. Robert H. Danell and Capt. Fred H. Stevens, who were killed Oct. 19, 1952 during an air show sponsored by the Air National Guard and city of Westfield.
East Mountain Country Club was farmland in 1952, the spot where most of the wreckage landed. Perez’ parents Ted and Maria Perez Sr. purchased the property in 1961 and excavation for the golf course unearthed several airplane parts and ammunition from the two F-86E fighter jets.
“During the clearing of the land a lot of small plane parts, including a cigarette lighter belonging to Capt. Stevens, have been found. One 50-cal. machine gun was discovered in a barn shortly after the land purchase and another was found during excavation in 1990,” Perez said. That weapon was turned over to the Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing for preservation, Perez said. The first one he believes was retrieved by the Air Force.
“I have done so much research it is ridiculous,” said Perez but it has let to contact with family members of both Danell and Stevens and a “friendship” with at least two.
Danell and Stevens were members of the 4707th Defense Wing at Westover and both were combat pilot veterans. Danell was 25 and a resident of Wakefield. Stevens, 28, was a resident of Salem, Va.
Danell was a veteran F-86 pilot who received numerous citations including the Distinguished Flying Cross during the Korean War. Stevens, also a recipient of the Flying Cross, was a veteran P-47 Thunderbolt pilot during the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II, according to Perez’ research.
Perez said his research prompted him “three or four years ago” to purchase a copy of the Air Force official accident report on the crash. That revealed jet fighters flown by Danell and Stevens collided during the final maneuver of the show.
The four F-86E jet squadron was based at nearby Westover Air Force Base and participated in the air show here at the request of the Air National Guard.
“That request,” said Perez, “was for just a fly over but instead they performed several maneuvers including a final bomb burst which resulted in the crash.
“I have found spectator photographs of the accident. About 10,000 people witnessed it,” he said.
“There should be something here to remember these two pilots,” said Perez.
His plan is to create a memorial similar to one on Mount Tom in memory of 25 WWII veterans killed when a B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ crashed July 9, 1946.
“There is nothing at Barnes, nothing at Westover, to remember Lt. Danell or Capt. Stevens,” Perez said.
Perez is planning a memorial dedication in October 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the crash. The plan is to construct the memorial on a knoll near holes 12 and 14 where Perez said most of the plane parts were found.
Information and registration for the Sept. 19 tournament is available by contacting Perez at 413-530-1100 or online at www.eastmountaincc.com.
Source: http://www.masslive.com
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