Southampton, Massachusetts, USA
1964 - SEN. KENNEDY INJURED IN PLANE CRASH. AIDE AND PILOT KILLED WHEN LIGHT CRAFT MEETS DISASTER AT MASSACHUSETTS AIRPORT.

Southampton, Mass. - (UPI) - Sen. EDWARD M. KENNEDY, suffered a broken back and two other men were killed when a light plane crashed Friday night in dense fog in an apple orchard.

KENNEDY was in fair condition at Cooley-Dickinson Hospital in nearby Northampton.

Doctors said, "There are no head injuries and no neurological findings. He has complete use of his legs and hands."

Sen. BIRCH BAYH, D-Ind., and his wife, MARVELLA, who also were aboard the plane en route to the Massachusetts Democratic convention, were less seriously hurt. They were reported doing "extremely well."
Dr. Thomas Corriden, senior surgeon, said the 32-year-old KENNEDY "has improved considerably since admission and is resting comfortably. X-rays show he has fractures of the fifth and sixth ribs on the left side and fractures of the second, third and fourth lumbar vertebrae."
"The lumbar vertebrae are in the lower back. He also has fractures of the second, third and fourth transverse processes. These are outtouchings of the spine which give it support. He has cuts and bruises on his legs and a cut on his right hand."

EDWARD MOSS of Andover, 41 year old father of three and KENNEDY'S close friend and aide, died at the hospital of massive brain injuries about seven hours after the accident.

The pilot, EDWIN T. ZIMNY, 48, of Lawrence, Mass., died in the crash of the two-engine plane, which was flying from Washington to Westfield, Mass.

BAYH had multiple cuts and an injured right hip. MRS. BAYH complained of a back pain.

Officials said MOSS also suffered multiple fractures of the right leg and right arm. He often was descibed as "the senator's Dave Powers," the latter having been the everpresent confidant to the late President Kennedy.

The plane crash occurred less than seven months after the senator's brother, President Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper's bullet in Dallas. Two other members of the Kennedy family, an older brother, Joseph, and a sister, Kathleen, died in separate plane crashes.

Several members of the Kennedy family visited the senator at his hospital bedside. Among them was Atty, Gen. Robert F. Kennedy.

Sen. KENNEDY, who earlier had been described as in a state of semi-consciousness, recognized his brother. "How are you, Bobby?" he asked.
Edward Martin, the senator's press secretary, said at 5:45 a.m. EDT -more than five hours after the crash - that KENNEDY "is comfortable now and somewhat improved. He is in fair condition."

"The senator is under some sedation," Martin said.

Martin said BAYH and his wife were in "good condition."

Martin said the apparent time of the crash was between 10:55 p.m. and 11:05 p.m. Friday night while the plane was headed for Barnes Airport in nearby Westfield.

From there, Martin said, KENNEDY was to pick up his wife at a private home where she was waiting and then go by car to the convention at West Springfield.

The plane slammed into three or four trees on Walter Bashista's apple farm in this western Massachusetts community.

The plane crumbled. The right wing was nearly ripped off. The cockpit was peeled off and the nose was smashed in.

A visitor to KENNEDY'S hospital bedside early today said the senator was in a "state of semi-consciousness." However, a hospital spokesman said his condition was fair to good.

Members of the Kennedy family rushed to Cooley Dickinson Hospital from scattered parts of the nation.

The crash occurred less than seven months after the senator's brother, the late President Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper's bullet in Dallas.

The 32-year-old KENNEDY, carried into the hospital on a stretcher, suffered chest, arm and face injuries. The 36-year-old BAYH and his wife were bruised and shaken.

The crash was the latest in a chain of tragedies and near tragedies in the Kennedy family. The oldest brother was killed in combat in World War II and a sister was killed in a plane crash shortly after her husband died in the war.

The father, Joseph P. Kennedy, who suffered a stroke in 1962, is partially paralyzed.

Sen. KENNEDY apparently was thrown out of the plane. James Pease, 21, one of the first persons to arrive at the crash scene, said KENNEDY was "on the ground, semi-conscious."

Both Democrats and Republicans were holding pre-primary conventions. The Democratic convention was adjourned in stunned silence after the crash.

A few hours earlier Kennedy and BAYH had talked to the Democratic Convention by telephone because their departure from Washington was delayed by the Senate vote on the civil rights bill.

The convention had been expected to endorse KENNEDY by acclamation.

Coshocton Tribune
Ohio
June 20, 1964

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