December 1, 1920 – Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Courtesy of the Air Mail Pioneers
On May 5, 1921, Walter M. Bunting was killed while coming in for a landing at Rock Springs, Wyoming, when his airplane dove into the ground. He was 50' in the air as he passed the hangar, and his motor sounded fine according to witnesses. One witness stated that "the airplane was being climbed too steeply to get speed quickly and therefore when he made his first turn he lost some 50'. He continued to climb after turning and when his airplane was up about 150' it seemed to have a slight miss but apparently revved up good." Bunting banked too much and went into a steep spin from which he could not recover.
Bunting's widow, Mrs. Lilliam T. Bunting of Carney's Point, New Jersey, was awarded the standard $35 per month compensation for as long as she remained unmarried.
Letters recovered from the crash had explanatory slips placed in them and were forwarded if possible.
This letter salvaged from Air Mail airplane which was destroyed by fire at Rock Springs, Wyoming, May 5, 1921
POSTMASTER, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Telegram regarding Bunting's December 27, 1920 crash.
- Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration
