Mace, Robert W.

Robert Mace
May 10, 1926-Dec. 16. 1952


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 17, 1952, page 1, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Airman Killed in Georgia Air Crash

 

A Niles pilot who was a civilian flight instructor for the Air Force was killed in a mid-air crash near the Bainbridge, Ga., Air Force Station Tuesday night while doing a favor for a fellow instructor.

[Robert Mace] was killed while on his last flight before leaving for home on a 10-day holiday vacation.

According to reports received here, two T.E. trainer planes crashed in mid-air while approaching the Bainbridge Field for landing clearance. Another flight instructor [illegible] about 7:30 p.m.

The names of the other victims were not learned but one of the cadets reportedly was a foreign student from Holland.

According to Mace's family here in Niles, Mace was to leave today for a 10-day vacation at home and took an over-night training flight just as a favor to a fellow instructor.

Other reports stated that two planes touched wings in the downwind leg of the landing area at about 800 feet and dropped to earth within 100 yards of each other.  All four occupants were killed instantly.

Mace, a reserve officer in the Air Force, had been a civilian flight instructor at the Bainbridge Station more than a year. Before accepting the position as flight instructor he was employed by the city here.

He was born in Sheridan, Ind., May 10, 1926, and moved to Niles in 1940 where he was an active member of the Elks Lodge and the First Methodist Church.

Surviving are: his wife, Shirley, Bainbridge, also formerly of Niles; a step-son, Jon, Bainbridge; his mother Mrs. Joyce Mace; a sister, Mrs. LeRoy Bartels, Michigan City, Ind., and three brothers, Scott, LaPorte, Ind., George, Lafayette, and Jerry, also Niles.

The body is being returned today to the Pifer Funeral Home here from where funeral arrangements will be announced later.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 18, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Robert W. Mace, 26, who was killed in an air crash in Bainbridge, Ga., on Tuesday night, will arrive here Friday.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home Saturday. The casket will be closed. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home by the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mace, who was a civilian flight instructor for the Air Force, stationed at Bainbridge, was a member of Niles Elks, the First Methodist Church, and was a veteran of World War II.