Around New England

Hero Pilot Remembered in Holbrook for What He Did Not Do

Matthew McDonald

United States Navy Lieutenant Walter R. Hein was flying a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk jet above the town of Holbrook in October 1967 when his airplane developed engine trouble; rather than dump his fuel near a school below or attempt to land in a populated area, he crash landed in a wooded area, where he died. By not maximizing his own chances for survival, he probably saved the lives of many people; town officials plan to honor him with a plaque commemorating the event a little more than 50 years later.

Around New England

Why Are There So Many Turkeys Around Here?

Matthew McDonald

In the late 1970s some wild turkeys were trapped in upstate New York and moved into the Berkshires where they thrived, and then the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife moved turkeys from there to other parts of the state. Today there are an estimated 25,000 in Massachusetts; if a turkey gets aggressive, wildlife officials recommend being aggressive back.

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