B-24H was on a flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Midland, Texas on March 18, 1944. While traveling over the Catalina Mountains, the plane encountered severe weather and attempted to return to Phoenix. According to the AAF mishap report, “there was moderate turbulence, probably hail and icing conditions in the area at the time. Pilot was at too low an altitude and either during or immediately after his turn clipped the left rudder, and probably the underside of the fuselage on a peak, knocking the left rudder completely off the plane...The plane careened on down a canyon finally losing the right wing outer panel, at which time it turned over and struck anther peak with the top of the fuselage.

Fatally injured:

Judson T. Holmes

Randolph Aspinwall

James P. Smith

Merle O. Norlie

Lloyd G. Kadel

William A. Scully

I.Rybinsky

Harlin S. Darby

Howard W. Binne

Charles Bishop

This episode brought to you by www.MadeInOhio.com
www.MadeInArizona.com

© 2011 Chris McDoniel

www.AerospaceArchaeology.com

Warbird Show Host Chris McDoniel talks with Mike McComb about the tragic mid-air collision over Grand Canyon between a TWA Constellation, N6902C, and a United Air Lines DC-7, N6324C, on June 30, 1956. A total of 128 people died in the crash. There were no survivors.

We'll hear about Mike's research, search, and hike to the crash site.

Photos courtesy of Mike McComb, www.lostflights.org, NPS, and NAU. Newspaper articles are from the Arizona Republic and Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff paper). Drawing of the crash site was from Mel Hunter, Life Magazine, April 1957.

Find Chris at www.WarbirdShow.com or www.AerospaceArchaeology.com

This episode sponsored by:

www.MadeInArizona.com

Visit to the Tillamook Air Museum to talk with Christian Gurling, Museum Curator, about SB2C-5, BuNo 83414, Helldiver that crashed Northwest of Tillamook on March 31, 1948. Pilot Robert Smedley was the only occupant. He was fatally injured in the crash.

Hanger photos provided by Tillamook Air Museum.

P-38 photo by Atshushi "Fred" Fujimori

Helldiver wreckage photo by JPAC

During the show, I reference the museum's "Grumman Wildcat." Their version is a General Motors FM-2 Wildcat.

This episode sponsored by:

www.LuckyScreenCloth.com

www.MadeInArizona.com

Here we go!

Welcome to the show broadcasting from an abandon auxiliary field somewhere South of Gila Bend. Take a journey with me as we connect with historical aviation events. If you want to connect with the past, this is the first step. In this show, you'll learn a little about me and the show. You have to start some place and this is it.

I'm always looking for original crash photos, information about crash sites, or story ideas, so if you have information, please contact me. View more of my work at www.AerospaceArchaeology.com

This episode sponsored by:

www.MadeInArizona.com