Kansas State Historical Society Topeka, Ks.
Daily hansan
Tuesday, March 16, 1954
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
51st Year, No. 108
—Kansan photo by Bill Slamin
BURNING BOMBER-Forbes Air Force Base fire-fighting crews work on the wreckage of the B-47 jet bomber which crashed southwest of Lawrence this morning. These views show the burning fuselage section of the plane. In the other picture, a member of the Air Police scowls at Kansan photographer, Bill Slimin, who took these pictures.
'Antigone' to Combine Greek, Modern Styles
Classic Greek and modernistic styles combine to produce an expressionistic stage setting for "Antigone," the Jean Anouilh play to be presented tomorrow through Saturday by the University Theatre.
KU Debate Team Wins at Winfield
The University debate team successfully defended its title at the St. John's college tournament at Winfield Saturday.
John Eland and Gary Sick, college freshmen, won all eight of their debates. Margaret Smith, college sophomore, and Ferris Kimball, college freshman, won four out of five of their contests.
John Eland won first in extemporaneous speaking; Margaret Smith was third. In impromptu speaking, Ferris Kimball was third and Gaay Sick, fifth.
Geologists Outline Research
At the State Geological survey's annual meeting Friday plans were
outlined for researches projects in the division of oil and gas, petroleum engineering, subsurface geology, petrography, geochemistry, ceramics and mineral industries, ground-water resources, coal resources, aerial mapping, and topographic mapping.
Costumes, designed by Annette Luthy, fine arts sophomore, will also combine Greek and modern styles. The guards and the messenger will wear dark tuxedoes, and Creon, Haeman, and the chorus will wear dark tail coats. The women in the play will wear gowns designed in Greek fashion.
The stage set was designed by David Rosario, fine arts sophomore. Rosario will play the role of the third messenger in the play.
The setting for the one-act play is in a room of King Creon's palace. A cycloramic effect is obtained through the use of red velvet drapes and blue velvet pillars on both sides of a bronze painted door, which is situated in the back center of the stage.
"Antigone" is a modern version of the Greek play by Sophocles, and the setting is designed to provide a background for contemporary times and yet retain the classic Greek style.
A minimum of stage furniture is used-only a table with matched chairs at either end and a small, Greek-styled stool.
Programs in which the team will participate consist of Hutchinson TV, Kansas City TV, Winter General hospital April 27, KU Relays parade, Air Force ball May 1, and Shawnee-Mission high school.
A women's drill team is being organized by Col. Thomas Summers, professor of air science and tactics, to incorporate in drill maneuvers. The unit will consist of 25 women and will be used in programs with the men's team,
Officers of the men's team will teach the women the techniques of drills. About two hours of drill a week will be required, and uniforms will be furnished.
Coeds to Form AFROTC Team
Tentative plans have been to start Monday, March 21, depending on the number of applicants. The 25 women will be chosen by a selective process, and drilling will be practiced near the Military Science building.
The Angel's Flight, organized last year, was similar to the proposed women's drill team. However, the members acted only as hostesses for ROTC functions.
Those interested should call Nathan Harris or Lee Pemberton at 1106 by Tuesday. A meeting of applicants will be held Thursday.
3 Men Killed In B-47 Crash
Bv KEN BRONSON and RON GRANDON
At least three Air Force officers lost their lives at about 9 a.m. today when their B-47 bomber crashed in flames on a farm about 20 miles southwest of Lawrence. $ \textcircled{1} $
Air Force officials from Forbes Air Force base in Topeka said the plane was stationed at Wichita Air Force base and that it had apparently collided with another B-47 from the same base. Reports reaching the scene indicated the other plane had returned to its base with a damaged tail section.
The burning wreckage of the plane was strewn over a three-quarter mile area on the farm of Ira Faust. The plane's landing gear and fuselage landed in a plowed field while the main part of the plane crashed into a wooded hillside about 300-vards from the fuselage. The farm is located in Douglas county.
Three bodies were recovered at the crash scene. One witness said he thought he saw a parachute about a mile north of the wreck. Air Force and civilian officials were searching that area.
According to observers, the plane apparently exploded in mid-air after being on fire for some time.
Charles Fawl of Richland, who was about four miles north of the scene, said he saw the 600mph jet plane in the air on fire.
"It looked like it just went straight down," he said.
Mr. Faust, who was plowing in the field where the plane crashed, said he heard the plane coming and then
Kansan First-Most Despite AP Refusals
The Daily Kansan's photographer, Bill Slamin, took crash pictures of today's B-47 accident despite efforts by air force police to forcibly eject him from the scene. The Kansan's staff was the first to reach the crash area with Ken Bronson and Ron Grandon accompanying Slamin for the story.
looked up and saw the burning plane coming straight at his tractor.
"I got off the tractor and crawled under it when I saw a couple objects break loose from his feet, so he said, 'Hill' the farmer said. "Then all of a sudden there was a terrible burst and the plane broke all to pieces."
The fuselage of the plane hit about 100-yards from his tractor and about 300-yards from the Faust home. Mr. Faust said he was so terrified that he ran to the house, leaving his tractor running. One man went over sometime later and turned off the ignition
Crash trucks from Forbes rushed to the scene. At about 10 a.m. more than 250 people had gathered at the sight, most of them farmers from nearby farms who saw the plane in the air or who heard the crash.
All observers seemed to agree that the plane had exploded before it hit the ground.
Robert Bigsby of Prairie Village, who was driving on US 50 south of the crash site, related to officials that the plane was entirely on fire but that it was not going in a steep dive. He said the plane blew up before hitting the ground.
At Wichita, the three crewmen in the other B-47 which limped back to its home field, immediately went before an investigating board without making comment on their escape from injury.
Witnesses said the parachutes were on fire. Afr Force withheld the names of the crew members, pending notification of next of kin.
The wooded hill, where the main part of the plane crashed, still was on fire at 10:30 a.m. Fire-fighting crews from Forbes extinguished the burning plane in the plowed field but could not reach the wooded area.
By-standers were cautioned to stay away from the wreckage because of the danger of the plane's highly-volatile fuel might explode.
Whiskers OK'd For ROTC Men, Officials Say
Attention, ROTC students! You too can take part in the centennial activities on the Hill which will begin Wednesday, March 24 and last through Friday, March 28.
ROTC officials have approved the growing of beards. So throw the razors out the window for two weeks and join the celebration.
While the beard is in the process of growing, be thinking about the western attire that you are going to wear for the costume contest. Boots, cowboy hats, spurs, holsters, and anything else a man of the "old west" would wear will be in style that day. "Jimmy" Green will be one of the main contenders for first prize—he will be all dressed up in his western finery.
Women students also can join in the activities by wearing everything ranging from blue jeans to great grandmother's calico dress, sunbomnet, hoop skirt, and many bellowing petticoats.
The costumes will be worn all day and the judging for both men and women will be Friday afternoon. A few of the prizes will include a $5 gift certificate from the Jay Shoppe, 836 Massachusetts st., for the best dressed "pioneer" woman, and a dinner for two will be given to the winning man's costume by Duck's seafood tavern, 824 Vermont st. Other merchandise prizes will be awarded.
The campus itself will take on the centennial look those three days by being adorned with bales of hay, lynched dummies, and centennial signs.
Weather
The dust blew in western Kansas today. Light blowing dust was reported at the same time in the
Southwest at Garden City, with visibility still a substantial $x$ miles. In Topeka, State Weatherman Tom Arnold said "this doesn't look to be a bad duster, although I guess all blowing dust is bad." However, he predicted winds will be
stronger tomorrow, blowing from the south and bringing the state warmer temperatures. Highs from 60 in the East to around 70 in the West are likely. Mr. Arnold marked another 24 hours without any precipitation in the state and said conditions are such that none is expected in the foreseeable future. Temperatures in Kansas ranged from a high Monday afternoon of 56 degrees at Garden City to a low early today of 20 in Topeka.