24-05-2025
Families of the fallen Westover based air crew return to memorial site 36 years later
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) – The families of the fallen crewmen were back at the memorial site at Skinner State Park Friday evening. Their visit marks the first time back since 1989. Some of them traveled from as far as Washington State and New Jersey. May 27th will mark 81 years since a Westover-based air crew with 10 aboard a B-24 crashed shortly after takeoff during a training exercise. The crash took place on the South Hadley side of Mt. Holyoke. All ten service members of the United States Air Force were killed. 'I can remember my first grade in school. One of my classmates asked me why my father wasn't there, and that was the first time I asked my mom why I didn't have a father,' shared Clyde Dechert, Son of Sgt. Wilburn H. Dechert. 2nd Lieutenant Talbot Malcom Jr's family was also in attendance, 'I'm honored to come and represent our family with Laurie and my daughter-in-law Jenn,' shared Valerie Macfie. Some of the men who dedicated their lives to service were as young as 21 years old during the time of the crash.'He's always been a picture and a name, but when this happened here, this monument was put up…this brought closure, and it also brought in a weird way some of him back to life,' shared Clyde Dechert, Son of Sgt. Wilburn H. Dechert.
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