Extracted from The Fresno Bee (Fresno, CA)
Thursday, June 18, 1942

Kern Army Flier Dies In Midair Plane Collision

BAKERSFIELD (Kern Co.), June 18. -- Lieutenant Walter M. Hill, 26, of Los Angeles, crashed to his death today after two Minter Field training planes collided over the nearby community of Shafter.

Lieutenant James Lewis, public relations officer at the army air field, said Cadet William M. Martin of Salinas parachuted to safety but that Hill went down with the plane, which burned.

The second craft involved, Lewis added, landed without injury to its occupants, who were not identified.

Lewis said the cadets were being given routine training in formation flying.

Hill was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. [sic B.] Hill of Los Angeles.

The body was taken to the Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara Mortuary in Bakersfield.