Newark in Licking County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Day Death Came To Newark
September 8, 1942
Approximately 12:05 p.m.
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp
1. The Day Death Came To Newark Marker
Relatively little is known about about the purpose of the B-25 Bomber flight from Patterson Field in Dayton to Mitchel Field on Long Island carrying a skeleton crew and even one civilian. It may have been to ferry men to new assignments or to ferry the plane east on one leg of eventually going to the front lines in Europe.
As the plane tumbled toward the ground over Newark, the Pilot and Co-Pilot ejected, but the plane was too low for parachutes to deploy. Pilot Douglas Kilpatrick went through the roof of the office of Dr. Mitchell on Locust Street, landing in an apartment Mitchell rented out. The Co-Pilot, Second Lieutenant Lawrence Lawver landed on the dock of the B&O railroad station at the end of Wyoming Street.
Two Newark residents were tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dollie Campbell, 73, was walking home after running errands. She was near the corner of Hudson and Wyoming Streets near her home when the plane hit. Her body was later found, crushed against the office of Dr. Jones, only recognizable by the flowered dress she wore. Jane Weston, 62, returned home after running errands to admire the
this page online
[Captions:]
Weston House
This is the Weston home that stood at the southeast corner of Wyoming Street and Hudson Avenue.
Three people were in the building at the time of the crash. The owner, Jane Weston, who passed away in the plane's initial impact, had hired Mary Welsch, and Mary's daughter Ruby to hang new curtains that Mary had made. Jane's daughter-in-law Elizabeth was on the phone in an attached apartment. When the plane crashed Elizabeth dropped the phone and ran to her front door. Finding it blocked by fire she escaped through a side door. Mary and Ruby had to be rescued from the rubble, injured but still alive.
Jones Building
The building pictured here is easily recognizable with its columned facade. At the time of the crash, Dr. Roland Jones occupied the first floor with his medical practice and rented the upstairs apartment to Fern Tucker. Debris from the B-25 struck the building breaking one of the columns in multiple pieces and igniting a fire in the upstairs apartment.
Firefighting
The crash caused total chaos with the immediate need of checking for injured fliers and residents and putting out the fires. Neighbors watched and pitched in to help.
Aftermath
After the immediate emergency subsided, local and state police and U.S. Army officials descended to investigate the cause of the crash. Beyond bad weather and tragic happenstance, no other reason was determined. The Army moved on with only scars and memories to preserve the story of a momentous and tragic day in Newark history.
Erected 2025
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, May 9, 2026
2. The Day Death Came To Newark Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is September 8, 1942.
Location. 40° 3.748′ N, 82° 24.303′ W. Marker is in Newark, Ohio, in Licking County. It is at the intersection of Hudson Avenue (Ohio Route 13) and Wyoming Street, on the right when traveling south on Hudson Avenue. The marker stands near the entrance ramp to Route 16/79 in front of the former church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 165 Hudson Ave, Newark OH 43055, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Columbus Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp
3. Dr. Jones' office, mentioned on marker
Now a residence. Rightmost pillar was severely damaged in crash.
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, May 9, 2026
4. The Day Death Came To Newark Marker
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, May 9, 2026
5. Closeup of The Day Death Came To Newark Marker
Photographed by Mark Moxley-Knapp, May 9, 2026
6. Closeup of The Day Death Came To Newark Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2026, by Mark Moxley-Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Last updated on May 13, 2026, by Mark Moxley-Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 12, 2026, by Mark Moxley-Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on May 17, 2026, by Mark Moxley-Knapp of Columbus, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
