Transcribe
Translate
Nile Kinnick Sr. correspondence regarding his son's fatal crash, 1945-1946
1946-04-08: Page 03
More information
digital collection
archival collection guide
transcription tips
down toward the water & circled until he landed! Nile's landing was as sweet a water landing as I've ever seen! The plane nosed up a bit then settled back & floated for a few second, then sank! As we circled we felt sure that he'd have no trouble getting out. Right after the plane sank, some piece of debris came up & floated for a few minutes giving us all a false sense of relief because we all radioed that we had seen him!! I distinictly remember that this piece of debris was yellow. Later, we wondered if it could have been Nile's Mae West, or life jacket. As soon as Nile hit the water, a destroyer stood by the spot & would have rescued him had he come up. We strained our eyes for some sign that he had gotten out. We circled for at least half an hour searching from the air while the destroyer searched from the surface. Had Nile been overlooked, I believe he could have made shore. I sincerely wish that I could bring you something to pin hope on, Mr. Kinnick,
Saving...
prev
next
down toward the water & circled until he landed! Nile's landing was as sweet a water landing as I've ever seen! The plane nosed up a bit then settled back & floated for a few second, then sank! As we circled we felt sure that he'd have no trouble getting out. Right after the plane sank, some piece of debris came up & floated for a few minutes giving us all a false sense of relief because we all radioed that we had seen him!! I distinictly remember that this piece of debris was yellow. Later, we wondered if it could have been Nile's Mae West, or life jacket. As soon as Nile hit the water, a destroyer stood by the spot & would have rescued him had he come up. We strained our eyes for some sign that he had gotten out. We circled for at least half an hour searching from the air while the destroyer searched from the surface. Had Nile been overlooked, I believe he could have made shore. I sincerely wish that I could bring you something to pin hope on, Mr. Kinnick,
Nile Kinnick Collection
sidebar
