PLANE CRASH: WWII Vet and Founder of Bormann’s Steel Confirmed Dead in Redwood Shore Plane Accident

September 3, 2010

Redwood City – A World War II veteran, who founded R.E. Bormann’s Steel, is confirmed to be one of the three people killed in the plane that crashed in a lagoon in Redwood Shores yesterday.

An employee from the East Palo Alto based steel company told authorities that Bob Bormann, already in his nineties, was aboard the twin engine Beech 65 Queen Air that crashed into the lagoon.

The plane had just left San Carlos Airport at about 11:50 am and was headed to San Martin when it crashed into the water 30 seconds after takeoff, an FAA spokesperson said.

Firefighters immediately responded to the plane accident scene where they found a woman, who was approximately in her forties, in the water near the wreckage.

The woman was pronounced dead after being pulled to the shore.

Rescuers confirmed that there are two more bodies, including Bormann, still trapped in the wreckage under the lagoon.

The other body was confirmed to be that of the pilot’s while the woman earlier was identified as his girlfriend.

Their names are being withheld by authorities pending more investigation.

The two bodies will not be pulled out until representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board have conducted an investigation.

The US Coast Guard and the state’s Department of Fish and Game will also be conducting their own investigation to assess any environmental effects of the crash.