NOTE: The news article consistently misspells "Matteson" as
"Madison"
Crash Scene Photo
Cemetery Interment Record
Grave
marker for 1/Lt Thurlow W. Matteson in Plot F - 262 of the Rock
Island National Cemetery, Rock Island (Rock Island), IL |
'Copter
Crash Near Alberta Kills Army Officer
And Injures Another |
Thurlow enlisted in the
Army on 11 Jan 1943 at Los Angeles, CA.
After completion of jump school at Fort Benning, GA, he was
transferred to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Pvt Matteson
was assigned to H Company.
He was awarded the Bronze Service Arrowhead for his participation
in the Holland campaign and Airborne operations.
Following the war he became a commissioned officer and helicopter
pilot. Since he served in Korea and picked up a Bronze Star with 1
OLC, he may have flown in Korea as a medical evacuation pilot bringing
wounded to MASH units.
That postulation is furthered by the fact that he was killed while
flying an H-19 Chickasaw, i.e., transitioning to a larger, heavier
aircraft. Watch this 1956 Fort Rucker
video
"Helicopter Pilot Training: "Transition to the H-19" which Thurlow
probably once watched as well. |
Lt. T. W.
Madison Of Ft-. Rucker, Ala., Loses Life—Survivor In Critical Condition
by JIMMY EZZELL
Progress-Index Staff Writer
ALBERTA [AL] April 27 —One Army officer was killed and
another seriously injured late this afternoon when an Army helicopter
crashed and burned near near this Brunswick County town.
Killed was First Lieutenant Thurlow W. Madison of Fort Rucker. Ala.
His Home address was listed as Greensboro. N. C.
Warrant Officer James M. Williams, 30, also of Fort Rucker. was
Injured. He suffered third degree burns over more than 90 per cent of
his body and his condition was reported as "very critical" [emergency?]
in South Hill Hospital, where he was carried after being treated at the
scene of the crash.
The helicopter, a two-seater, crashed around 4:45 o’clock, approximately
150 yards south of State Road 606. one-half mile west of Alberta.
Madison was trapped In the flaming wreckage and was burned |
beyond recognition. Several hours after the flames were
extinguished by the Alberta Volunteer Fire Department, Lt. Madison's
charred body was found with his seat belt around his waist.
The cause of the crash was not immediately learned. Army Authorities at
the scene said they had not determined the flight schedule of the
helicopter. The log book and personal effects or the two men were taken
Into custody by military police and criminal Investigation agents from
Fort Rucker.
Captain Robert S. Kelly, public information officer at Fort Rucker.
said late tonight, that Second Army Headquarters at Fort Meade, Md, had
assigned Major Harold E. Woolf, of Fort Lee to investigate the crash.
NOTE: the pilot was later reported to have said that the
aircraft's transmission had become badly overheated and that the
controls would not respond. |