Burt C. Powell, 1^st Lt., U.S. Army Air Corps, (KIA)

May 18, 1920 – March 21, 1944

Memorial services for Lt. Burt Powell, former instructor at Goodfellow Field who was killed in India, will be held today by the America Legion in Manzanola, Colo., the pilot’s widow has informed Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hudman here.

Lt. Powell, whose home was in Hanzanola, died in an aircraft accident near Lelagbet, India, March 21. He left San Angelo last September after being stationed here over a year. San Angelo Standard-Times, San Angelo, Texas, Sunday, April 30, 1944

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1^st Lt. Burt Curtis Powell was the FIRST person to die in a US helicopter in a combat zone when his helicopter crashed on a test flight, shortly after it had been assembled, after its arrival at an operating base at Lalaghat, India.

“The US Air Force Air Rescue Service” by Wayne Mutza – published Jan 2023

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SURNAME – Powell ​

FORENAME – Burt Curtis​

UNIT – 1 AC Group ​

RANK – First Lieutenant ​

NUMBER – 0-664653 ​

DATE OF DEATH – 1944​, Mar 21

AGE – 20, born 18 May 1920

GRAVESITE – Hillcrest Cemetery, Rocky Ford, Otero County, Colorado​

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – from Crowley County, Colorado​, born 1920 Colorado​, graduated high school​ – farm hand in civilian life​, enlisted 23.1.1942 (Private 18069975 Air Corps)​, helicopter pilot Sikorsky YR-4 Hoverfly​ test flight​ crashed Lalaghat, India​

​DATE OF DEATH: 1944, Mar 21

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