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July 18, 2012 at 11:18 AM

Summerville’s Russ Hoenig will be the guest speaker for the DuBois Area Historical Society’s 30^th Annual Dinner, September 20, at 6 p.m. at the American Legion in DuBois.

The cost for the dinner is $18. The menu includes a choice of roast beef or turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetable, tossed salad, rolls, and dessert. Contact the DuBois Area Historical Society to make reservations.

Hoenig will speak about his findings during research for his latest book, “Rockton’s 43-9228 Details of a World War II Plane Crash.”

On Nov. 18, 1943, a twin-engine attack bomber was on its delivery flight from Douglas’ Long Beach, Calif., factory to Newark, N.J., where it would depart the United States for service overseas. It left Youngstown, Ohio, on the day of the crash near Rockton.

When Hoenig heard about the Rockton crash he began gathering information and conducted personal interviews with witnesses. “Years from now, someone else may be curious about Rockton’s plane crash and we did not document it now, all our knowledge could be lost.”

In the course of his research he found aircraft accident reports, the pilot’s and other witness statements from the time, the weather report, newspaper clippings, and other documents along with photos and maps he used in writing his book. With all of this information he could draw his own opinion of the crash.

“Rockton’s 43-9228 Details of a World War II Plane Crash” is Hoenig’s third book investigating military aviation. The others reported on a military crash in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan; and the May 31, 1948, crash of a plane near Treasure Lake.

Hoenig plans to donate some pieces of the debris from the Rockton plane crash to the DuBois Area Historical Society.

His self-published book concerning the Rockton crash is available by contacting Hoenig at 379-3266 or at the DuBois Area Historical Society.