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Baxter Boone Slaughter b1921

Misc Links:

The Zenith Yearbook 1941, High Point College – see pages 49, 63 (a capella choir), 70 (marching band)

Misc Notes:

AviationArcheology.com “USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List November 1944”

  • DATE 11/24/1944
  • TYPE TBM-1C
  • BUNO 46013
  • SQUADRON  VT-81
  • FROM USS WASP (CV-18)
  • DOWN ENR ULITHI
  • AREA WCENPAC
  • PILOT  LTJG BAXTER B. SLAUGHTER
  • FATE S

Excerpts:

from http://www.jetpiedmont.com/Phorum5/read.php?2,426,1606

“Baxter Slaughter flew 392 in 395 out. It was turn-a-round afternoon trip at MRH. He would intentionally not call in range and try to get to the ramp before Wallace was aware he was there. Since he often ran more than 15 minutes early, he was successful often. Wallace moved two 60 gallon drums to the ramp and hid behind them. Slaughter thought he had slipped up on him again when Wallace jumped out from behind the barrels and gave him a snappy “CUT TWO” signal. Slaughter would BS the military controllers at Cherry Point and they would often clear him thru the restricted military air space. This would allow him to fly the segment in less time than the flight plan called for. What a wonderful time to work for the airline!!!”

from http://www.jetpiedmont.com/Phorum5/read.php?4,743,1041

“Baxter Slaughter died July 4, 2003. He was a retired Piedmont Captain. A grave side service will be held at Forsyth Memorial Park at 11:00 AM Monday July 7, 2003 in Winston Salem.”

“Capt. Slaughter was a gentleman. I talked with him many times
when he would start or end his flight at GSO. I don’t ever remember him
saying an unkind word about his fellow crew members or anyone else. In talking with him you would never know his uniform carried 4 stripes on the sleeve. My thoughts & prayers are with his family. He will be missed!”

“One hell-of-ah pilot. A Buddy, a mentor, a golfer, a prankster, a soldier, a lover, a poet; but most of all, a flyer. He was “The upmost — to say the very least.” And I’ve missed him — many many days before he ever past.”

“I have fond memory of Capt. B.B. Slaughter, Played golf with him in PI golf tour at Myrtle Beach Nat`l ,I think it was held in the 1980`s. He flew into CHO when I first started with PI in 1959 . He flew DC3`s at that time. I think of him every time I drive by Bsy Tree Golf course on SC Rt. 9 near Little River, S.C.”

from http://avstop.com/news/death.html
Passenger Falls 6,500 Feet To His Death Through The Main Cabin Door
June 13, 1956, A passenger on Piedmont Airlines Flight 5, DC-3C N 45Y, fell to his death through the main cabin door from an altitude of 6,500 feet, near Shelby, North Carolina, at approximately 1807, 1/ June 13, 1956. The crew and other passengers were not involved in the accident. The air stair door received minor damage during the inflight opening and subsequent flight to a normal landing at Asheville, North Carolina. Piedmont Airlines Flight 5 originated at Fayetteville, North Carolina, destination  Louisville, Kentucky, with intermediate stops at Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina, and Tri-Cities, Tennessee.
It departed Charlotte at 1744,six minutes late, with Captain Baxter B. Slaughter, Jr., First Officer Henry A. Schulze, Jr., and Purser Bert R. Barnes as crew members, and 24 passengers. Seated in next to the rearmost air of seats on the left side were Mr. and Mrs. Oren A. Pruitt, who had been transferred to Piedmont Flight 5 after arriving at the airport too late to claim their reservations on another carriers flight that departed Charlotte at approximately 1715. The aircraft reached 6,500 feet ms1 cruising altitude at approximately 1806.
The seat belt sign had been left on since takeoff because of anticipated turbulence, which had not developed. About one minute later, at 1807, while the purser was on the flight deck obtaining information for a passenger, the aircraft suddenly yawed to the left as the cockpit door-warning light came on. The first officer and purser immediately went to the rear of the cabin where they found the main cabin door fully open. A woman passenger, who was in the lavatory when the door opened, left the lavatory and assisted past the open door by the two crew members. A passenger check revealed that Oren A. Pruitt was missing. The captain circled to establish the location and then proceeded to Asheville, Where a routine landing was made. The flight was canceled at Asheville and the aircraft remained there awaiting inspection. The U.S. Weather Bureau 1728 observation at Charlotte was: Scattered clouds at 25,000 feet, visibility 12 miles.