September 24th, 1957 – A plane crashed into a home at 1843 Tuttle Ave, killing both pilots and two at the home. Walter Geisler, who was mowing the lawn in the path of the crashing plane and his sister, Mildred VanZant, had come home early from her job at St. Elizabeth Hospital, where she was the Assistant Director of Nursing. Mildred’s husband, Herbert, was dragged to safety by three men who had smashed a window to get to him. He was taken to the hospital and treated for shock and a gash on his arm. Nobody else was injured. The couple’s daughter, Mary Catherine, was playing at a friend’s house 2 doors down and was far enough away to escape harm.

Also killed were Major James E. Melacon, Pilot and Captain Wilho R. Heikkinen, copilot.

The crew was performing a local training flight departing from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in a Martin B-26 Marauder. The twin engine aircraft lost control and crashed on Tuttle Avenue, destroying at least 4 homes. An investigation revealed the likely cause of the crash was a loose engine cowling moving forward into the propeller.