ESSARY, Melvin S.

ESSARY, Melvin Stanley (1915-1955), born in Tennessee, he died at San Clemente Island on November 11, 1955. He was 40 years old. Lieutenant Commander Essary was the pilot of a Douglas AD5N Skyraider, a naval attack bomber based in San Diego, that crashed into the U.S.S. Hopewell, killing five. All three in the plane were killed: Lt. Comdr. M. S. Essary (40), the pilot; Robert E. Sewart AT-3 (21), of Punxsutawney, PA; and Brent M. Phillips (24), of Jamaica, Queens, New York, radar operators. Aboard the U.S.S. Hopewell two were killed and several injured. Those killed were Roger M. Edwards (21) and Robert D. Hobel (22).