That time a Scott Field blimp bombed an O’Fallon farmhouse and surprised housewife
Area farmers Julius and Bertha Weil probably never thought that one of the risks of living next to an air base was being bombed by American aircraft.
But that’s exactly what happened on July 30, 1931, as recounted by this O’Fallon Progress article from the time.
“An accident, which may have resulted more seriously, occurred last Thursday morning when a bomb accidentally dropped from the Scott Field dirigible TC-241, landing on the roof of the farm home of Julius Weil, located just east of the government airport.
“The home, a brick structure was considerably damaged, the bomb crashing through the roof, a room and the floor, embedding itself in the ground, where it exploded. The roof and two rooms received the brunt of the damage, practically all of the furnishings in two rooms being wrecked.
“Mrs. Weil was the only person at home at the time, the husband and a son being at work in the field. Mrs. Weil was in the cellar, which is only under a portion of the house, the cellar not being excavated under the part of the house where the bomb landed. This is probably all that saved Mrs. Weil as the ground was frightfully torn where the explosive landed.
“A checkup on the damage revealed a crack in the brick wall of the house, the roof and two floors and furnishings in the home. The explosive tore a number of heavy timbers into shreds, splinters being scattered over the two rooms, which were reduced to a pile of debris.
“A freak of the bombing occurred in one of the rooms, where Weil’s shirt was hanging on one side of the wall. The garment was forced through the floor above, a portion of the shirt being in the second story while the other part hung suspended from the ceiling.
“The TC-241 was in command of Capt. Roger McCullough, accompanied by Capt. E. J. Boling and Warrant Officer E. Lassiter, and a crew of officials rated as bomb experts.
“The explosive, a small clay practice bomb, containing two pounds of powder, was aimed at a target approximately 500 yards away and authorities are of the opinion that the bomb was carried to the Weil home by a strong wind, the direction of which was in line from the target toward the house.
“Scott Field authorities immediately started an official investigation.”
75 years ago, June 10, 1948
Three outstanding events in as many months are scheduled for O’Fallon. All are of local importance since they are community projects.
The O’Fallon Fire Department is making preparations for its annual spring festival to be held at City Park on the night of Saturday, June 19. This year’s event is of far more than passing significance as the firemen are working hard to raise finances for a new and modern fire truck to replace one of the trucks which has been in use for some 28 years.
A fish-fry will be featured and there are to be rides and many other amusements to make it an evening of entertainment for everyone.
On Sunday, July 4th the O’Fallon Park Board will sponsor a monster fish-fry, baseball game, dance and other amusement features at Community Park. The ball game is scheduled for 2:30 o’clock. This is to be followed by a fish-fry which will continue until midnight. At night there will be a dance in the spacious hall. This is the second annual affair and the board is making preparations for a large turnout.
Proceeds will go toward the installation of more playground and picnic equipment in Community Park. As in the case of the firemen it is a most worthy cause, as everyone is, or should be interested in further development of the park which already is reputed as one of the finest public recreation centers in this section of the state.
Another coming event, preparations for which already are underway is O’Fallon’s annual two-day Home-Coming celebration. This is scheduled for August 28 and 29. As in previous years, a monster celebration is to be staged to uphold the community’s reputation for sponsoring one of the most outstanding Home-Comings in this area.
50 years ago, June 7, 1973
An explanation of the tornado alert signal used by the O’Fallon Fire Department was given by Fire Chief Cletus W. Schau who is also civil defense director.
Schau said there seems to be some misunderstanding of the signal system. The tornado alert, he said, is a steady blast on the siren at the fire engine room for a duration of 90 seconds.
The fire alarm is a down blast on the same siren for a period of two and one-half minutes. The siren is tested daily at noon with a single signal.
Schau said that the siren may not be audible at all times in each part of the city due to distance and wind and weather conditions. (There was only one siren in O’Fallon back then – at the Washington Street fire station.)