CRANE, (Lt) - George W - Korea - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

First Lt. George W. Crane IV, 26 of Hillsboro and Chicago and son of Dr. George W. Crane, psychologist and newspaper columnist was killed at 3 p.m. Saturday July 7 when two jet planes collided over Glenview Naval Air Training Station in practice maneuvers for an air show to be held on Sunday.  Lt. Crane, a Marine Reserve pilot was reported to have catapulted from his disabled plane but his parachute failed to open and fell about 2,000 feet.  The collision occurred over the Naval air station while a flight of four Cougar jets were “peeling off” preparing to land. A jet piloted by Maj. Max E. Olinger 33 of Grand Rapids, Mich struck Crane’s plane in the tail section tearing it off.  Olinger crash-landed his plane and was treated for shock. Crane’s plane narrowly missed a house occupied by three women and pieces of the craft which exploded on impact in an open area struck this house and at least three others. Officials at the base said Crane, flying in the lead of a diamond formation headed south over the base, veered off to his right and Olinger followed. After the collision witnesses saw the tail section fall toward a taxiway on the base. Crane’s planed continued for a few seconds and then plunged toward the ground at a steep angle into neighboring Glenview. The tragedy occurred on the eve of the aviation show held at the Naval Air Base Sunday commemorating the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Naval Air Reserve Training Command at Glenview which was attended by 150,000 spectators. Lt. Crane had been associated with his father in business since his discharge from the Marine Corps in early spring. He was home for the weekend and the family had planned a reunion of their immediate family for Sunday which would have been the first time they had been together in five years.  Born Sept 23, 1929 in Chicago he was the oldest child of Dr. Crane and his wife Cora Ellen Miller Crane. He attended DePauw University two years and was in the last semester of his senior year at Hillsdale College, Michigan when he enlisted in the service in 1952.  He was a Korean war veteran and was flight instructor at Pensacola, Fla the last six months of his enlistment. Surviving with his parents are three brothers, Philip, Daniel and David and a sister, Judith. Also his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Crane Sr and maternal grandfather, Eli Miller of Hillsboro. The flier’s father, who teaches a Sunday School class at the Chicago Temple taught his class as usual, “stated that he and his wife and children, decided that they might as well come to church and carry on.”  He had learned of the death of his son less than 18 hours earlier. Dr. Crane explained that George had intended to become a minister and said, “We know that if we are to carry on the fine work that George had started each of us will have to carry another 1/6 of the load.”  Funeral services were held at the Hillsboro Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Duane Hulse of Sheboygan, Wis conducted the4 service in which he paid a wonderful tribute to George IV.  He was assisted by the pastor, Rev GT Johnson. Organ music was by Mrs. Mildred Cooper. The Rev. Johnson nsang, “The Lord’s Prayer, accompanied by Mrs. Sarah Lou Fishero. Joseph Savarino of Hillsdale, Mich gave as a piano solo, Moonlight Sonata. Serving as pall bearers were 1st Lt. RI Duato; Wilton E. Hall, Jr. Lt. JG Frank W. Hill, Ensign Beau Holton, 1st Lt. Dennis Joyce, George W. Martin, 1st Lt. CV Smillie, Capt. MJ Steinberg.  A military service was conducted at Rose Hill Cemetery with Lt. Col. Stanley S. Nicolay, USMC, officer in charge, CWO Harry A. Trimm, USMC and 1st Lt. Dennis K. Joyce, USMC as escort. The guard of honor was Sgt C K Bogue, Cpl DF Cohma; Cpl TG Hayes; Cpl CS Hester; Cpl AW LaMay, Jr; PFC AL Martin; Sgt RL Melle; Cpl JR Rector; Sgt RB Rich; T Sgt S F Waschco. Firing squad: Sgt WA Alexander; S Sgt TE Barron; Pfc JP Brightman; Sgt CT Ellmo; Sgt WL Lloyd; Sgt WH McCaulou, Cpl JW Sloan, Cpl W A Wantland and bugler, Charles Myers.  Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hillsboro. – kbz (photo but dark)