1957 collision over pacoima
My physical injuries were minor, my clothes and jacket kept me from getting burned by the hot oil. The post Can Elly Schlein Pull Italy to the Left? I was a little hesitant to post it at first because I didnt want to remind the families of that horrible day in such a real way. At some point at Madison Jr. HS (1967-1969), I was responsible for managing those loudspeaker announcements we use to have to sit through in homeroom. If your husband decides to listen to it, I hope it helps. Like others who have blogged here, it wasnt until my mid thirties that I could fly in an airplane without my palms sweating and my stomach flipping over. I miss that school so much. Thank you, Mr. Buchanan. Thanks again for posting as I commented once before. I remember that day too. At the time I remember thinking it was shredded paper. He probably took the reel of tape directly from Pacoima to his gig at the station that day for broadcast. I, like all of us that were there that day, will never forget it. A part of the plane actually did land in the middle of the church, but no one was hurt. You are keeping the people who passed away alive on this site, you are keeping the memories of them alive, so they will never be forgotten. Many commenters on these pages were in nearby elementary schools when it happened. I also was a student at Terra Bella Elementary School and witnessed the crash from my school room. I too remember seeing debris in the sky. Some dived to the ground; others were running when the blast of debris overtook them. I am still amazed at the vivid detail in yours and others accounts. Also just recently read from another site that indeed coach Vardanien was there to help the wounded and later would be my PE teacher at Poly and a track coach at Poly. We lived near by on Gain Street and I went to Kindergarten at Beachy Avenue School. Ill relay this web site to him. We watched while it flew out of sight and finally the plume of smoke. In short, my opinion is.GREAT JOB, MY FRIEND!!! You know, you are not alone in your memory of seeing the pilot gesturing from the cockpit. I was five years Oldfield at a nearby nursery school when this happened. I was a seventh grader who had gym that period. That was eerie as hell. The fates were definitely with you and Pam. I really liked him a lot. Could you put me in contact with David? the Harringtons were between us. Maybe Richard was with us. One of my Facebook friends living in Dahlonega, GA posted an article about the plane crash that killed Ritchie Valens. It was adopted by the Homeland Defense Department post 9/11 Commission Report, and was renamed the National Incident Management System (NIMS). On the other hand, I hoped it might serve as a catharsis you know, lose the fear by confronting it. Regarding Ritchie Valens friend: there seems to be some dispute as to whether one of the victims was Valens best friend. I was able to clean it up and add some extra effects. His sister and the rest of the Boyd/Brann family remember him with love. As soon as it disappeared on the horizon a large black plume of smoke appeared. Thanks for writing. It appears the kid is walking toward the school? Most memorable to me was the large black mushroom cloud of smoke immediately after impact. Since you obviously have a much more personal connection to the story and the events of that day, Id like to know what you think of my version, and if you or anyone else involved has any comments, corrections or suggestions. In 1957, a plane collision crash killed seven people two pilots and two crew members, . Yes, not only do people remember that day, but it seems to be etched in the memory of many. I am also very very happy that the interest for the story have been widespread, because i feel its only these childrens right to be remembered atleast since they passed away so early. [citation needed], 7 Die as Planes Collide and One Falls in Schoolyard; PLANES COLLIDE, SCHOOL YARD HIT Roar Alerts Students 'Everything on Fire' Witness Describes Crash, "The day fiery disaster fell from the sky", "Childhood pal recalls Ritchie Valens as 'sweet,' 'tough' from California home", "On Pacoima Playground With Ritchie Valens: Grief Moves Him to Save Lives", "Ritchie Valens | Biography, Songs, Plane Crash, Donna, La Bamba, & Facts | Britannica", "The Definitive CBS Radio Workshop Radio Log with Parley Baer, Herb Butterfield and William Conrad", ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-7B N8210H Sunland, CA, CBS Radio Workshop, Episode "Heaven Is In the Sky", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1957_Pacoima_mid-air_collision&oldid=1136726390, Santa Monica Airport, Santa Monica, California, United States, This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 20:52. Bill Ritchie, From: Russ Buchanan To: billscessn99@yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2015 1:54 AM Subject: [New comment] Pacoima Jr. High School Airplane Crash of 1957 (audio recording as it happened) #yiv9852227305 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv9852227305 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv9852227305 a.yiv9852227305primaryactionlink:link, #yiv9852227305 a.yiv9852227305primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv9852227305 a.yiv9852227305primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv9852227305 a.yiv9852227305primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv9852227305 WordPress.com |, Russ Buchanan commented: Hey Nanci -Youve got the right Russell. My job was to help families deal with severe emotional and behavioral issues that were keeping them in the cycle of poverty, substance abuse, crime, etc. One of the guys started pointing to the sky to the northwest and we saw the DC7 plummeting to earth. This does make me feel pretty darned good and proud of my Pacoima pages. John 3:16 After that I spent time reading some of the other comments and read what Richard Berger had posted. Im sure you know that your dad has been commended by many for his heroic action during his final moments, guiding the airplane toward the small swath of green that was the gym field thereby avoiding the surrounding classrooms and residential areas. Ill refer to to this site which Im sure she will find interesting. I remember seeing the tape 1/4-inch on 4-inch reel when I used to rifle through my dads tape collection as a nosy kid. The first time I regained consciousness I was in a room with Lloyd Hopkins. When I got out I found that my parents had arranged to move to Palmdale, Ca. I will let you know how it turns out and thank you again for permitting us to use it. just let me know. Say goodbye to everybody were going in. The navigator of the F-89 had parachuted safely to the ground immediately after his jets near head-on collision with the larger aircraft. If anyone has any information on her they could share, we would be much obliged. When power is interrupted during a recording, it naturally slows the tape speed. Pacoima Jr. High School Airplane Crash of 1957 (audio recording as it happened) Photos accident date: 31-01-1957 type: Douglas DC-7B registration: N8210H Map This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network's opinion as to the cause of the accident. Elementary School. MIchael Russell also a graduate of James Monroe High School, as was Donna. Someone from school had called my mom to see if I had run home. I was only 7 at the time, and I went to Terra Bella Elementary, next door. The first kid to see it saw the impact flash. I was at school in La Crescenta doing sit ups out in our school field when we all saw smoke and the planes falling right after impact. The quality of the recording is surprisingly good, considering it was recorded on dads ancient Wollensak reel-to-reel and that it sat in our garage for decades. Seconds later, part of the hurtling wreckage slammed onto the grounds of the Pacoima Congregational Church, killing all four Douglas crew members aboard while the major portions fell onto the adjacent playground of Pacoima Junior High School. Yknow, at the house we never talked much about the crash. We crossed the Pacific Ocean four times in DC-7s. Kris, If there is anything I can help you with, let me know. He was serious about educating his students and always had a very classy demeanor. This crash and another (DC7 and Connie midair over the Grand Canyon July 1956) put the fear of flying into me. I WAS THERE AND WILL NEVER FORGET, I WAS IN THE AUDITORIUM. They are very much appreciated. That day was definitely seared into many young minds. The clip is quite sobering. How on earth did I just remember that I cant even remember where I put the keys an hour ago?) (LogOut/ I saw many students injuries on that day. Wreckage was still on fire, strewn everywhere, having slammed into fences, backstops, basketball hoops, and, of course, children, who lay everywhere, burned and bleeding from gashes too grisly to comprehend. In 2009 I was working as a behavioral specialist for the Summit County (Ohio) Juvenile Court. 1 February 1957; Page 11; San Bernardino Sun, Volume 63, Number 132, 1 February 1957 Page 11. . I may have only been five, but youd think I would remember the sound of the explosion or the sirens, considering that my mom and I were at the church adjacent to the school when the DC-7 came down. When I left that day, I searched for information on such an event and found the reports of the midair collision that led to this story. My sister, who was a friend of Evan Elsners, told me today that our parents, John and Eleanor Buchanan, attended Ronnies memorial service. Debris on the Pacoima Junior High School Athletic Field. God Bless you all. Evans mom, Irene Johnson Meddy Elsner was my grandma Ruth Johnson Launs cousin .. Later, there was some kind of dedication ceremony that my grandparents flew out to from Chicago. I never forgot it, its not the sort of thing you forget. I guess 20,000 + feet. This comment is for Allen Hester. In an odd twist of fate, a few years ago, I met a friend for a drink and there were 3 other patrons and the bar tender at the bar. God bless you all and thank you for sharing your stories. Terry Brown. When the plane hit I was running. Nice to think that the recording Russells dad made will be used this way:-). Thanks for commenting. Rusty was popular with the ladies. Yes, like so many others this event is seared into my mind even though I witnessed it from 4 miles away and wasnt exposed to the terror and carnage that so many others were. (And I hope you dont mind that I included a link to your page.). His friend, Richard Berger, was not as lucky and got severe burns over much of his back and legs. Needless to say, it was a rough few hours for my mom, who had learned of the crash but had to wait an excruciating two hours before dad called to tell her he and her daughter were OK. Regarding Valens friends: According to a remembrance of that day by a friend of Valens, the young singers best friend was one of the three students killed. I was in the auditorium on the day of the crash, practicing for my graduation. Anyway after school mom would drive us all over to Joyces house to pick her up for babysitting. Very powerful stories have been written here, and I hope that you may all find peace of mind and heart one day with regard to this tragic event. You can find the story at: http://www.cemeteryguide.com/gotw-pacoima.html. On January 31, 1957, a Douglas DC-7B operated by Douglas Aircraft Company was involved in a mid-air collision with a United States Air Force Northrop F-89 Scorpion and crashed into the schoolyard of Pacoima Junior High School located in Pacoima, a suburban area in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. I lived on Daventry street and attended Telfair Avenue School. My family moved to the west side of Pacoima so I wasnt able to attend PJH until 1960. Scared the crap out of everyone. I live in Ukiah, California now (see post above about me witnessing the crash while in the 2nd grade at Strathern Street Elementary School). Thanks, Im ok. I felt comfortable enough with her at that point to poke around a little. I never knew if it was because the school board believed nuclear war was less likely after 65 or if they figured junior high-aged kids should be wise enough, in the event of a nuclear blast, to drop under their desks without rehearsal. Against the sound of 800 frightened students and a distant fire bell, an unintelligible announcement is made on the P.A. But that day seems indelibly etched into the brains of those who were there, including my sister and father. Man, those would be difficult images to shake as a kid or as an adult, for that matter. As a young childno. Does the Harvard Kennedy School Serve the Peopleor Power? No hiding under the desk for you; you wanted to know what was going on. To the cousin of Ronnie Brann. My mom never really said much about the kids that were killed and injured so sad, but they arent alone, as I think about it often myself and wonder what my life would be like today had I had my father. Well done, Mr. Masek. Its strange, you were only two years older than I, but remember much more. I think there was a lot of heroism on that day, but few names have been mentioned. When I asked them if any of them remembered the accident, they all said yes, and they had all lived in Pacoima at the time, and were in elementary school. About 110 years, I think. I dont remember hearing the explosion but I ran over to the windows and remember seeing the black smoke and a lot of debris twirling in the air. IIt was making a screaming noise and then I heard a crash. Thank you very much for commenting and sharing the post with your family. Not to mention, the lifelong fear of flying that many witnesses have to this day. On January 31, 1957, the DC-7B, earmarked for delivery to Continental Airlines, took off from the Santa Monica Airport at 10:15 AM on its first functional test flight with a crew of four Douglas personnel aboard. I dont remember what brand of tape he used. did someone set them off or? Russ What does the school look like now? I actually ended up on this page because i had a nightmare about me sitting in a plaine while it crashed in my school, and first when i google it i ended up on this page : http://dreammoods.com/cgibin/dreamdictionarysearch.pl?method=exact&header=dreamsymbol&search=plane about dream symnols interpretation, and actually its no wonder it crashedinto school since i feel so streesed about my exams and getting accepted into a university. RB, Right, but all Im saying is that Wollensak was owned by 3M at one point.or had a very close relationship. I was 9 years old when the crash happened I was at San Jose Street School, near Woodman and Devonshire in the valley I can remember our windows rattled and some even broke. I asked where this was and she said, Pacoima Junior High School. Then she just started talking. We were able to leave the classroom to go to the bathroom. She and one of the girls in our classroom were clutched together. Russell- Missing that day was pop star Ritchie Valens. I was young and that is all I know. Ive been amazed at the responses to this post and how many commenters who saw or heard the plane come down but were not directly harmed by the crash were nonetheless deeply affected, in one way or other, for their entire lives. I had no idea Phyllis had gone out on the field to retrieve her jacket. Russ, The crash sent the transport plunging on a path o. I like that guy. Thank you for your posting the audio tape. Hi, Jim Wollensak was the brand of recorder, not the tape. When we were finally allowed to leave the P.E. Thats why you hear the tape speeding up at the end. The plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean about thirty minutes after taking off from Tokyo. Thanks again, Sheryl. There was fire. There was a large flash and suddenly we heard the blast. Even though I never met Evan, I grew up hearing about what happened. 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