DUBOIS – Summerville’s Russ Hoenig will be the guest speaker for the DuBois Area Historical Society’s 30th Annual Dinner at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at the American Legion in DuBois.
The cost for the dinner is $18. The menu includes a choice of roast beef or turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetable, tossed salad, rolls and dessert. Reservations are due by Sept. 4. To make reservations, please contact the DuBois Area Historical Society at 814-371-9006 or 814-637-5657.
Hoenig will speak about his findings during research for his latest book, “Rockton’s 43-9228 Details of a World War II Plane Crash.”
On Nov. 18, 1943, a twin-engine attack bomber was on its delivery flight from Douglas’ Long Beach, Calif., factory to Newark, N.J., where it would depart the U.S. for service overseas. It left Youngstown, Ohio on the day of the crash near Rockton.
When Hoenig heard about the Rockton crash, he began gathering information and conducting personal interviews with witnesses. In the course of his research, he found aircraft accident reports, the pilot’s and other witnesses’ statements from the time, the weather report, newspaper clippings and other documents along with photos and maps he used in writing his book. With all of
this information, he could draw his own opinion of the crash.
“Rockton’s 43-9228 Details of a World War II Plane Crash” is Hoenig’s third book investigating military aviation. The others reported on a military crash in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan and the May 31, 1948, crash of a plane near Treasure Lake.
Hoenig has donated pieces of the debris from the Rockton plane crash to the DuBois Area Historical Society. His self-published book concerning the Rockton crash is available by contacting Hoenig at 814-379-3266 or at the DuBois Area Historical Society.
The fifth annual Spirit of DuBois Lantern Walk is the next event in the DuBois Area Historical Society’s 30th year. The walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13, with the first tour leaving from the YMCA at 6 p.m. and new tours leaving every 20 minutes.