Sabrejet Posted October 28, 2015 Share #1 Posted October 28, 2015 Tragic news, which just goes to show that running these old WW2 vehicles is not without risk. Oct 27: "Two people were killed Tuesday afternoon by an explosion inside a World War II-era tank at a public firing range 24 miles east of Bend, Deschutes County ( Oregon) Sheriff deputies said..." Apparently it was an M18. They were filming and there was an explosion inside the turret. Cause as yet unknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted October 28, 2015 Update from NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-killed-when-wwii-era-tank-explodes-oregon-n452631 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted October 28, 2015 Share #3 Posted October 28, 2015 Tragic news, which just goes to show that running these old WW2 vehicles is not without risk. Oct 27: "Two people were killed Tuesday afternoon by an explosion inside a World War II-era tank at a public firing range 24 miles east of Bend, Deschutes County ( Oregon) Sheriff deputies said..." Apparently it was an M18. They were filming and there was an explosion inside the turret. Cause as yet unknown. That is so sad and horrible. Those poor men and their families. They obviously worked hard at maintaining and enjoying their passion only to have this tragic ending. As someone that has a keen interest in WWII armor, (even though I haven't had the personal experience of a ride or operation of one yet) it feels strange because I know I would have jumped at the chance to have been part of riding and firing this vehicle. Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted October 28, 2015 Share #4 Posted October 28, 2015 It was an M18. I knew the owner Steve Preston. One hell of a nice guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted October 28, 2015 I believe this is the gentleman referred to by robinb above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve B. Posted October 28, 2015 Share #6 Posted October 28, 2015 Yes, that's a photo of Steve Preston and his Hellcat. Great guy. Also killed was 23 year-old Austin Lee, my brother-in-law's nephew. He was a WWII fanatic, and I gave him some of his first militaria when he was about 14. He wanted to get into reenacting, but was too young for the local club, so started off in airsoft. He was very personable and very knowledgeable - a good kid. Sad news all the way around. Both Steve and Austin will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 28, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted October 28, 2015 Sad indeed...passing away like that, pursuing the hobby they loved. R.I.P. both of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted October 28, 2015 Share #8 Posted October 28, 2015 That's tragic news. Here is a link to the news from g503.com http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=144&t=265140 Condolences to the affected families and friends. RC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted October 28, 2015 Share #9 Posted October 28, 2015 Yes, that's a photo of Steve Preston and his Hellcat. Great guy. Also killed was 23 year-old Austin Lee, my brother-in-law's nephew. He was a WWII fanatic, and I gave him some of his first militaria when he was about 14. He wanted to get into reenacting, but was too young for the local club, so started off in airsoft. He was very personable and very knowledgeable - a good kid. Sad news all the way around. Both Steve and Austin will be missed. Austin was a member of my living history group, the Friends of Willie and Joe. Good kid, I still can't believe this (just heard this morning on my way to work). Steve was a mover and shaker in the MV hobby in the US, his loss will be felt very widespread. I won't speculate on what happened but I have so far heard a misfire was the root issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted October 28, 2015 Share #10 Posted October 28, 2015 http://www.mvpa.org/2015/10/28/steve-preston/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tankdriver Posted October 28, 2015 Share #11 Posted October 28, 2015 It was an M18. I knew the owner Steve Preston. One hell of a nice guy. I know Steve from back when I owned a M5A1 Stuart tank. Really a super nice guy. I hate that........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry K. Posted October 28, 2015 Share #12 Posted October 28, 2015 It's just too bad. You can legally own a firing weapon like that if you are registered. ATFE should not have much to say if legal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted October 28, 2015 Share #13 Posted October 28, 2015 it was legal, no question about that. I had a discussion with Steve soon after he got that 90MM running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted October 28, 2015 Share #14 Posted October 28, 2015 We lost two fellow collectors here. I did not know the young man involved but did know Steve and he was a great guy. We drove and fired this Hellcat on a TV show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted October 28, 2015 Share #15 Posted October 28, 2015 I did not know the young man involved I did. He's getting lost in the notations of Steve's passing because Steve was better known. But Austin was equally into WW2 stuff and an avid re-enactor and collector (though admittedly not as well known). I would have expected amazing things from him within this hobby had he lived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David D Posted October 29, 2015 Share #16 Posted October 29, 2015 Rest in Peace to both of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted October 29, 2015 Share #17 Posted October 29, 2015 Very, Very Tragic loss to the families and to the Military History preservation community. I have sent prayers to them. I am hoping this doesn't have repercussions to the hobby. I have an affection for the M-18 as I was able to care for one in a veterans history museum I'm associated with for a couple of years. Ours came from the group out of the former Yugoslavia, and had a US de-milled76mm gun (breech block cut in half and a hole cut in the barrel). I was unaware these ever had 90mm guns in them. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted October 29, 2015 Share #18 Posted October 29, 2015 Not sure what I was thinking when I wrote 90mm earlier, they had 76mm guns... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted October 29, 2015 Share #19 Posted October 29, 2015 I remember seeing the M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer on the show Combat Cash on the history channel that was a great show with the firing demos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeeper704 Posted October 29, 2015 Share #20 Posted October 29, 2015 Condolences to both families and friends. What a loss for the collecting world. I saw that Hellcat on Combat Cash too and was really impressed with the restoration of this TD. Erwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WW2JAKE Posted October 29, 2015 Share #21 Posted October 29, 2015 sad news to hear, i know they will surely be missed... hate that it happened, but they were doing what they loved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww2imp Posted October 30, 2015 Share #22 Posted October 30, 2015 Very sorry to hear it. This accident has shaken the very foundation of MV restoration and reenacting. I wonder if they were firing hot loads? Was it a new made or original breech? Any good gunsmith will tell you that receivers, like breeches, suffer fatigue over time and extended use. Worth considering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve B. Posted October 30, 2015 Share #23 Posted October 30, 2015 To make matters worse: Austin's grandfather, Odell Lee, died last night (Thursday, October 29, 2015). This has been a very tough week for the family. There is some sort of crowd-funding page set up to help with funeral expenses for Austin, but I can't find the link right now. PM me if you are interested, or I will post it here when I find it if the moderators think that's acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintageproductions Posted October 30, 2015 Share #24 Posted October 30, 2015 Steve, please feel free to post a link here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve B. Posted October 30, 2015 Share #25 Posted October 30, 2015 Thank you. Here's a link to the crowdfunding page: https://www.youcaring.com/margaret-evers-and-bob-lee-458959#.VjJx5GIYbd6.facebook No word yet on funeral services. I will post the information as soon as I get it. I suspect they may combine the two. Thank you to everyone for your support and condolences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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