Integrity, Honor, and Respect
Some of the best things cannot be bought, they must be earned
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This website is dedicated to all veterans and active duty of the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard helicopter groundcrew and aircrew, and the helicopters they flew and maintained.
Leo J. Carbonneau, Major, USAF (Fallen)
January 19, 1922 – July 22, 1959
H-19
Niagara Falls AFB, NY.,
22 July 1959
The Oneonta Star (Oneonta, NY.),
Thu, Jul 22, 1959, page 1
Copter Falls Seeking Man
Three Killed
Mt. Morris, NY. (AP) — An Air Force helicopter crewed by Maj. Leo J. Carbonneau (P), Capt. Victor H. Hanf (CP) and SSgt. John E. Tinsman, searching for an elderly lost professor crashed in the wild, wooded gorge of the Genesee River Wednesday and all three men aboard were killed.
The helicopter, from Niagara Falls AFB, hit a high tension line over the gorge and plummeted to a tiny island in the river.
The crash scene, near the north end of Letchworth State Park, is in an almost-inaccessible area of near wilderness. It is about four miles west of Mt. Morris and 35 miles southwest of Rochester.
The helicopter left Niagara Falls about 10 a.m. to assist in the search for Dr. Walter R. Bloor, 83, professor emeritus of biochemistry at the University of Rochester. Bloor walked away from a picnic area in the park late yesterday and failed to return.
The crash occurred about 12:20 p.m.
Nearly three hours later, Bloor was found walking not far from where he disappeared.
©2023 USAF Rotorheads All Rights Reserved | Financial Statement