Clarksville Man Dies in Airplane Crash on Coast
Capt. Alfred Fisher Was On Way to Hawaii
Clarksville, Ia.—Alfred Fisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fisher, Clarksville, was killed in an airplane accident that claimed 14 lives near San Francisco, Cal., late Thursday, according to a brief message received by the parents, Friday evening.
With a crew of 13 other men, Fisher was piloting a surf-plane, and had just taken off when trouble developed and he attempted a forced landing. The plane crashed into a hillside near Hamilton field and caught afire, and all were killed.
Fisher, who had been an employee of Consolidated Aircraft company, was taking off for Hawaii at the time of the accident. He was 38 years old, and had been a pilot for 20 years.
His wife, formerly Mary Alice Miner of Cedar Rapids, and one child survive, besides his parents, two sisters and six brothers. One brother is dead.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, June 7, 1942
PLAN MEMORIAL RITE FOR FISHER
Clarksville Church to Be Scene of Special Services will be at 2 p.m.
CLARKSVILLE—A memorial service for Capt. Alfred Fisher, who gave his life in the service of his country, will be held on Sunday afternoon in the Community Church in Clarksville with the Rev. Herbert Marsh officiating. Captain Fisher was killed in an airplane crash at Hamilton Field, Cal., June 4, as he was taking off for Hawaii. The crew of 13 men also lost their lives in the crash.
Alfred Oliver Frank Fisher was born Oct. 23, 1903, the eldest child of Henry John and Clara Elizabeth Fisher. He spent his entire childhood in the vicinity of Clarksville, attended rural and Clarksville high school, the Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Boy Scouts.
At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy and for six years was a wireless operator. While stationed at Puerto Rico he started working for Pan American Airways, met and married his wife who was Mary Alice Miner of Cedar Rapids, then a teacher in Puerto Rico. He made his home after marriage at Cocoanut Grove, Fla. In 1910, he resigned his position and went to San Diego, Cal., to take up work with the Consolidated Aircraft company and was commissioned a Captain. He flew many bomber planes to the Philippine islands and to Hawaii.
He leaves his widow; one daughter, Clarabell; his parents of Clarksville, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fisher; six brothers, Victor of Clarksville, Arthur of Correctionville; Raymond of Calamus; Henry Jr and family of Clarksville; Donald of Clarksville; Robert at home; and three sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Titus of Racine, Wis., Mrs. Clara Folsom of Clarksville, Tenn., and Louise at home.
The American Legion post of Clarksville will attend the memorial service in a body.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, June 11, 1942
Clarksville, Ia.—Louise Fisher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fisher of Clarksville, is the first from this vicinity to have successfully passed all physical and mental tests and has been accepted into the ranks of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps at Des Moines. She has returned to her home here and is awaiting her call. Miss Fisher is the sister of the late Capt. Alfred Fisher, who gave his life in the service of his country on June 4, 1942. He was engaged in piloting the new B-24 planes, known as the “Liberators,” across the Pacific to unnamed ports, for use by our armed forces. His plane crashed near San Francisco, killing the entire crew of 14 men.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, October 25, 1942
Alfred Oliver Frank Fisher was born Oct. 23, 1903 to Henry John and Clara McNeil Fisher. He died June 4, 1942 and is buried in Antioch Cemetery, Clarksville, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
