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1928 US Navy Biplane House Crash Quincy MA Wreck Rubble Glass Negatives (2) OOAK
Incredible pair of two (2) original antique gelatin silver glass plate camera negatives captured on March 24, 1928, documenting the dramatic crash of a U.S. Navy biplane directly into a residential home in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Preserved directly within the historic press morgue of the Boston Herald-Traveler, these dramatic field negatives capture one of early naval aviation\'s most famous New England suburban crash scenes:
The Original Morgue Sleeves & Notations:
Accompanied by the complete original three-piece period filing ensemble:
Outer Job Envelope: Inscribed in ink \"Navy Plane Wrecked / Quincy, Mass. / 1928\" with editorial notation \"Amazing photo\".
Plate 1 Inner Sleeve: Inscribed in fountain pen \"Navy plane crashes into house at Quincy, March 24, 1928 / (original neg)\".
Plate 2 Inner Sleeve: Inscribed in graphite pencil \"Navy plane crashes at Quincy, March 24, 1928 / (original neg)\".
Historical & Visual Content:
On March 24, 1928, a U.S. Navy training biplane operating out of nearby Squantum Naval Air Station experienced catastrophic engine/flight failure over Quincy. Both naval airmen saved their lives by making emergency parachute jumps, leaving the unmanned aircraft to plunge directly into a residential neighborhood:
Plate 1 — Yard & Garage Wreckage: A sharp wide view showing the mangled airframe wedged tightly into the narrow breezeway between a two-story clapboard family residence and a garage. The crumpled fabric wings, wire bracing, and tail empennage are surrounded by inspecting police officers, naval authorities, and neighborhood spectators looking down from the back porch.
Plate 2 — Engine in the Attic: A remarkable indoor shot taken upstairs in the attic rafters where the heavy radial aircraft engine sheared through the roof and pulverized the brick chimney, leaving the engine block and fractured wooden propeller blade embedded in a bed of shattered bricks, plaster, and joists.
Specifications:
Format: Pair of two (2) antique silver gelatin glass plate original camera negatives.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original outer newsroom master job envelope and both (2) vintage green glass-plate sleeves dated March 24, 1928.
Please Note: This listing is for the two (2) physical antique glass plate negatives, the master envelope, and the two inner sleeves only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual reference to demonstrate how the negatives print. No physical paper photographs, modern prints, or reproduction prints are included.
Very Good antique condition. Both heavy glass plates are complete and structurally sound with no cracks, breaks, or structural fractures. Gelatin silver emulsions remain deep, sharp, and stable, capturing incredible textural clarity across the splintered airframe wreckage and attic debris. Minor period newsroom handling frilling is confined strictly to the outer perimeter rebate edges. Accompanied by all three original 1928 newspaper filing sleeves.
The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
If you collect glass negatives, please check out our collection in our store. We are currently listing thousands of original glass photo negatives from this DJD collection through the remainder of the year. Follow our store, and feel free to reach out about any questions about the negatives in this collection.
Ships with extreme care in archival materials to ensure safe transit. Feel free to reach out with any requests or questions).
Combined shipping is available (with other glass negatives)
