Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1913 — NAVAL AVIATION HAS FIRST VICTIM [ARTICLE]

NAVAL AVIATION HAS FIRST VICTIM

Ensign Billingsley Killed While Passenger Escaped by Plunge At Annapolis Friday. The first victim of the navy in an aeroplane was Ensign Billingsley, who lost his life Friday. The ensign and Lieutenant John A. Towers were soading 1,600 feet above Chesapeake bay at Annapolis in a hydro-aeroplane. The machine became disabled and the ensign was hurled from it to his death. Almost miraculously the lieutenant clung to the wrecked machine and was saved, although he dank with the machine when it struck the water. Fearing that he would perish, he tore strips from the lashings of one of the planes and bound himself to one of the pontoons. A scout launch which is kept running about the bay for just such emergencies saw the accident and hastened quickly to the rescue of Towers. The body of the ensign was not recovered Friday.