George E. Townsend
Game Warden Pilot

George E. Townsend

Veteran → Accident
End of Watch August 27, 1956
Age 36
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Game Warden Pilot George Townsend was killed when the plane he was piloting crashed into Maranacook Lake shortly after taking off from its base in nearby Tallwood. Warden Townsend and a Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologist were conducting a moose survey. As soon as the plane took off, it fell into the water. The airplane turned upside down, submerging the cabin underwater. Both men were killed instantly. Warden Townsend was a United States Navy WWII veteran and served with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Warden Service for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Game Warden Pilot Townsend gave the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Augusta community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Unknown
Location Kennebec County, ME
Platform Identity mifwws.me.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 27, 1956
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

George E. Townsend served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

George is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1956, 74 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.

Every year on record · Worldwide
II

Who

George was 36. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. George had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service has 16 officers remembered here, George among them.

VI

Where

Game Warden Pilot George E. Townsend

Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife - Warden Service · End of Watch August 27, 1956

Military Service

George E. Townsend served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit George E. Townsend’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W

Also Remembered

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