February 7, 1948
Five Probably Killed When Plane Falls

Jasper, Feb. 6 (Spl). - An army B-25 en route from Dayton Field, O, to
Little Rock, crashed into a bluff of Round Top mountain, less than two
miles south of here at 8 tonight. At midnight, a rescue party reported
the plane still in flames and that two bodies could be seen. It is known
that five persons were on the plane and it is believed that all are dead.

Sheriff Russell Burdine and Sgt D.G. Wilson and Patrolman Wayne Hyden of
the State Police who had been at the scene and returned to Jasper at 10
p.m., said a series of explosions forced them to keep at a distance.
They said the plane was burning fiercely but that by the light of the
flames, they could see two bodies. They also found two caps.

The plane struck a half mile off Highway 7, principal road through Newton
County. No one here saw the ship, but farmers living near the scene came
to town to spread the alarm. They said the big ship was flying low and
it was evident it was experiencing motor trouble.

Sheriff Burdin and the State Police who are stationed at Harrison
organized a searching party and found the wreckage.

Bound for Little Rock
Officials at the airport in Little Rock told State Police the plane was
due in Little Rock at 8:07 and when it failed to appear, calls were sent
out. They also said the ship left Dayton, Ohio with five men aboard.

Rain which fell here yesterday and today left the woods coated with ice
and footing on the mountain was very dangerous. It was possible that the
others of the crew were thrown clear of the flaming wreckage and may have
fallen down the bluff.

The State Police radio station at Harrison remained in service but at
midnight could not contact Sergeant Wilson or Patrolman Hyden and
indication that they were out of their unit at the scene.

Bodies Taken from Plane Wreckage
Jasper, Feb. 7 (Spl.)- Four of the five service men killed when an army
B-25 bomber hit the east side of Round Top mountain near here last night
have been identified by army authorities.

Those identified were members of the crew. The other victim was a
sailor, who was said to have hitched a ride on the plane, which was en
route to Little Rock from Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. Wright Field
identified the four crew members as:

Lt. Phillip Novick, aged 26 of Brooklyn, New York.

Lt. Felton F. Roberson of Little Rock and Osborne, Ohio.

Lt. Charles W. Thomas, aged 26 from Zepher Hills, Florida.

M-Sgt. George L. Haties, aged 28 of Dayton.

State Police and an army rescue team from Barksdale Field, Shreveport,
La., removed the bodies from the mountain today after residents had been
barred from the area. Fire and explosions prevented police and residents
from reaching the victims for several hours.

HIT PEAK NEAR TIP
The plane struck the 2,000 foot Ozarks Mountain about 200 yards from the
top at 8 last night. It burned until about midnight. A series of
explosions, which continued almost an hour, then started. Police
believed the explosions were started by oil and fuel which had collected
in crevices of the mountain.

Jasper is 150 miles from Little Rock in Northwest Arkansas. The plane
was apparently off course.


sheriff Russell Burdine of Newton County said a logbook found in the
wreckage recorded "icing conditions" and fog immediately before the
accident occurred.

Lieutenant Roberson, aged 27, is survived by his wife, formerly Miss
Betty Bivens of Little Rock; two children, Sherry Lynn and Thomas Lee;
and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Roberson, of 4309 Maryland Avenue. He
graduated from Catholic High School in 1940, and entered the army in
1942. Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel church.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Note: Editor did not find a marker for Mr. Felton Roberson at Calvary Cemetery but I did find a marker for his parents who died in the 1970's.

Little Rock National Cemetery