Dozens of people gathered Saturday in southern New Jersey to honor the accomplishments of a pioneering aviator from Mexico who was killed in a crash in the Pine Barrens nearly 90 years ago.
American Legion Mount Holly Post 11 staged its 87th annual tribute to Emilio Carranza, a captain with the Mexican Army's Air Corps who was killed when his plane went down in July 1928 near Tabernacle in Burlington County.
The event, held Saturday at a memorial erected in Carranza's honor, is meant to honor Carranza and foster goodwill between the United States and Mexico.
At the time, Carranza was headed to his homeland, just weeks after he had completed the third-longest solo flight at the time — a goodwill journey from Mexico City to New York City that made him a national hero in Mexico. The top two spots were held by noted aviator Charles Lindbergh, whom Carranza has often been compared to because of their similar exploits.
Friends had cautioned the 23-year-old pilot against making his ill-fated flight back home, citing fierce thunderstorms that had engulfed the New York area, and he initially held off making his return. But Carranza eventually chose to take off and, while flying over the Pine Barrens, his plane came apart and crashed into the woods.
Members of the American Legion post were among those who attempted to stage a rescue the night Carranza crashed, but they found his body the next day. The discovery was re-enacted during Saturday's ceremony, which also featured wreath layings at the memorial and speeches by Mexican and U.S. officials.
The memorial honoring Carranza was installed in 2007 with funds donated by Mexican schoolchildren.
