REES, Forest Elton, Beeville Picayune, Thursday, 28 Apr 1921, front page with photo:

Forest REES Killed When Airplane Crashes Friday. Accident Occurred Near Fair Grounds at About 6:35 P.M. 
When Plane Side Slips — Henry HALL Has Badly Broken Leg and Other Minor Injuries.

Forest Rees died in the Beeville Hospital at 9:25 o'clock Friday night, 3 hours after he and Henry Hall 
crashed to the ground in a field adjoining and west of the fairgrounds in this city.

Forest and Henry had gone up in an airplane during the progress of a ballgame staged at the fairgrounds that 
afternoon and were still circling around above the grounds and city. When the game was concluded, everyone 
had come back to town except some Mexicans who were taking care of some racehorses which were in training 
at the fairgrounds. About 6:30 o'clock, Henry, who had been driving after Forest had gotten the machine in the air, 
guided the ship back toward the landing field and the fairgrounds and brought it down to within 700 feet of the 
earth. (They had been about 2000 feet high) Forest then cut off the motor a moment to tell Henry that he would 
take control of the ship and make the landing. (Henry was receiving instructions from Forest but not had reached 
the stage where he was permitted to take a machine off the ground or bring it back down.)

The machine had duel controls. Forest was in the front seat and Henry in the rear. The machine at 700 feet was 
headed due west and in banking to make the turn so as to approach the landing field against a N. E. wind, the 
bank was evidently too steep and the machine slipped sideways. Henry, who never lost consciousness, realized 
their danger, he said, and when he saw Forest crouch down in his seat, apparently giving up hope of righting the 
ship and trying to protect himself as best he could against the crash he saw was unavoidable, he (Henry) grabbed 
hold of the "stick" and made a desperate effort to right the ship, but it did not respond. Before the crash, however, 
the ship had righted itself somewhat and with another 100 feet between the ship and ground Henry believes the 
accident would have been avoided. He thinks the ship lacked flying speed on the bank, causing it to fall over on 
its wing.

As soon as the ship landed and buried its nose in the field, Henry looked around for Forest, but could not see him. 
He called to him as he climbed out of the ship over a wing and jumped to the ground. His right leg gave way as he 
jumped and fell to the ground. However he was afraid the ship might catch on fire and he crawled away from it, still 
calling Forest whose groans he fmally heard. Mexicans at the fairgrounds witnessed the crash and hurried to the 
scene. Forest, pinned between his seat and the engine, which had been driven back against him when it struck the 
ground, recognized one of the Mexicans and asked him to help him out as he was suffering. It took some time to 
remove the wreckage sufficiently to get him out, however, and it was seen that he was horribly crushed. They put 
him on the ground but he told them to help him up so he could go home. Those were his last words, but while being 
held up he took a handkerchief from one of them and wiped the blood from his face with his left hand, his right arm 
being broken.

Charlie Hale was on his way to the landing field in a car when the accident happened. He brought them to town and 
first aid was rendered at the Jewel Drug Store after which they were hurried to the Beeville Hospital. Dr. Griffin and 
Dr. Neeley made a hurried examination of Forest's injuries and saw there was no hope for his recovery. They realized 
his suffering and the spirit took it flight at 9:35 — about 3 hours after the accident. Both legs of the unfortunate young 
man were broken and crushed below the hip and knee, his right arm was broken and crushed and the lower jaw was 
crushed, as were his left chest and side.

Aside from a double break of his right leg between the knee and ankle, Henry received only one other injury, a deep 
cut across his lower lip. The injured leg and lip were dressed at the hospital and Henry is still there doing nicely.
News of the accident was spread over the city rapidly and hundreds of cars visited the scene that afternoon and during 
the next day or so. Many people called at the hospital immediately after the accident and remained until Forest's death. 
The sudden death of the young man was a great shock to his parents, relatives and friends.

Forest Elton Rees was the 2nd son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Rees. He was born in Hallettsville, Texas, December 3, 1897, 
being 23 years old last December. He had lived practically all his life in Beeville and enjoyed a wide acquaintance 
throughout this section.

Forest attempted to enter the aviation branch of the army during the war but was rejected on account of imperfect vision. 
However, he took up flying more than a year ago when his father purchased a government plane. He quickly mastered 
the ship and showed especial proficiency. He was a careful, graceful aviator and many who at first feared for his safety 
when in the air, had come to look upon him as a safe pilot who would not likely meet with a serious accident. His sudden 
death was a shock to everyone.

The funeral was held at St. Joseph's Church, Saturday afternoon with internment in the St. Joseph's Cemetery, the 
Rev. Father Peter Hanley officiating, The grave was high with floral offerings and the funeral cortege was probably 
the largest ever seen in this city.