never been there either, but here’s one of the residents….

Martin

This one was used for Mapping & Survey duties in Switzerland – after retirement had a short stay at the Swiss Transport Museum Lucerne, but soon it was moved to Sion by road, for which trip the wings were sawn off 😡 😡 .

A group of enthusiast intended to restore the aircraft to flying condition, but lack of funds soon saw this project being abandoned; the Twin Pin staying in neglected condition in open storage. The airframe deterioriated, but was noted well into the early 90’s – the current situation / status in currently unknown to me…… 🙁

Seen here in luckier days, April 1974

Martin

That’s the RCAF camo used mainly on T-33’s based in Germany.

Martin

😀 Men can’t cook Naka 😉 :dev2: :dev2: Anna 😎 :diablo: :dev2:

Try me…… 😀

Martin

Does the book have any photos with Crites in them?

nope.

Martin

Okay

the “Coonskin Boys” book is on my desk now.

It contains about the same information as already posted earlier:

On Sunday morning, April 8, 1951, C-47 number 6004, with Capt. Edward K. Whittington at the controls, slammed into a hillside four miles short of Kanawha Airport. Nineteen men died in the fiery crash and two more died within three days of burns and massive injuries. The hadest-hit section of the squadron was the armaments division, seven of its 28 members were los.
The reason for the crash never was determined. There was heavy fog, but, aside from that, investigation showed that both engines were running perfectly at the time of impact. Also, the pilot was very familiar with the terrain. One strange thing deepens the mistery even more; the overhead cockpit-escape hatch was found 1.5 miles back on the flight path from the crash site.
Something good happened as a result of the crash. A later investigation of the site showed that the top of the mountain contained a magnetic field that could affect navigational instruments in approaching aircraft. The top of the mountain was cut down, thereby elimination possible cause for a future accident.
Those who died in the crash and were identified include Capt. Edward K. Whittington, pilot; First Lt. Harry B. Kesler, co-pilot; Tech Sgt. William H. Shelton, crew chief, Staff Sgt. David Rollyson, Sgt. Winson A. Schoonover, Sgt. James E. Creasy, Cpl. Columbus Hall, Capt. Charles E. Cobb, Cpl. Dennis I. Meeks, Cpl. John R. Price and Pfc. Jimmy Dolan. Unidentified dead include First Lt. Drexel E. Crites, First Lt. Lyle E. Finley, First Lt. Herman F. Winter, First Lt. Charles R. Michaelson, First Lt. William J. Frank, Staff Sgt. Kenneth C. Amick, Sgt. Richard F. Hazeltine and Pfc. James R. Lewis. Injured men who died later include Maj. Issac E. Bonifas and Capt. Harry K. Blackhurst.

May they rest in peace !

Martin / Swiss Mustangs

Well done !

Martin