Obit: Wendt, James H. (1944? - 1967)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Wendt, Downing, Waldeck

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 09 Feb 1967

Wendt, James H. (1944? - 3 FEB 1967)

A Wisconsin pilot died Friday when hs F9T Cougar jet training plane failed to pull out of a spin stall maneuver and plunged 30,000 feet to a field in southern Texas.

Killed was Lt. (jg) James H. Wendt, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold A. Wendt of Owen in Clark County, Wis.

The Navy said the instructor flying with Wendt, Marine Capt. Bobby G. Downing, 29, of Goldsmith, Tex., suffered minor injuries when he parachuted to the ground.

The student's body was found about 200 yards from the wreckage.

It was the third Navy plane to have crashed in south Texas in a week. Wendt, stationed at Chase Field, was the first person to die in the crash series.

Following James' graduation from Owen-Withee High School, young Wendt attended Northwester University under and N.R.O.T.C. scholarship. He successfully completed his first solo flight in January of 1966.

His father, who is postmaster, said that he and his wife had planned to go to Texas Feb. 17 when Wendt was to receive his naval wings. The flyer had been in the Navy since 1965.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, are a Brother, Randall J., at home, and a sister, Mrs. Jack Waldeck, Belvidere, Ill.
           

 

 


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