Hi, my distant cousin was Evan Clark Meddy Elsner who was killed as a result of this crash. After just watching The Ritchie Valens movie again, I binged this site. I was in 9th grade at Pacoima Junior High School, when the plane crash occurred.. My mother, Pauline Taylor, covered the story as a reporter for the Pacoima Post. Thanks for your fascinating website, and for the chilling and haunting audio of the plane crash at Pacoima Junior High School. I apologize for being off-topic. Thanks again . I found this website with a bunch of newspaper clippings on the event. Like Randal said, I did not know where it crashed till I got home. She gave me Carols email as she lives in Simi as does my sister and she seemed like someone I would like to get to know better. Thanks for writing. I, like all of us that were there that day, will never forget it. Such a horrible thing to happen. Well, this plane crash was horrendous, I will never forget it, I remember parts of the plane landing in our backyard, I think I was walking home from Beachy Avenue Elementary School when it happened, about 2 blocks away at around 11 a.m. or so. I was able to share this information with the other professionals involved in the case and she was able, at least, to unload some of the emotions she had been holding inside. All I remember is the confetti-like pieces of metal floating down from the sky and later, when we returned to the house, my moms agitated state (my sister and dad were at the school). We were in the open when the debris starting falling and the ground shaking. Even though it was many years ago and I was very young, my memory is so vivid it takes people by surprise. Our bungalow classroom backed up to the fence division. At 11:18 a.m., one moved into a wide turn 25,000 feet above the San Fernando Valley. I can only imagine how weird and disturbing it would be to have such a pivotal life experience erased from memory. My parents were friends with Evan Elsners parents, and we stayed at their Pacoima house several times in the years following the tragedy. My mother was 36 yrs old and she promised my brother and I that she would try to keep the house so we could finish school with our friends. Many years after the Pacoima air crash (late 1960s), schools began implementing counseling programs for traumatized students. They wrote about seeing a classmate bathed in smoking oil with his shredded jacket hanging off him. I didnt have a WordPress account at the time I was trying to listen last week. I was sitting at a lunch bench at Montague Street School when I heard a shrill screaming sound that would simulate a missile. I remember looking out the window of the classroom that overlooked the field of the junior high. She said she ran onto the playground and there was chaos apparently parts of the aircraft were still falling. Since I went to Pacoima 64-67, I missed him too. Fire, kids screaming, people from the neighborhood filling the school yard, emergency vehicles trying to get in. and Garber, so our vantage points were probably quite similar. Frequently girls hung out around that area. Do not know which branch. The program we developed is known as START (Simple Triage And Rapid Transport). According to my sister, my mother and I were at the church next to the school when the plane exploded and sent an engine through the roof of the church. Several of us fell as we were instructed to run to the covered lunch area. Our family lived at 13328 Kagel Cyn. Hi, Deb thanks for commenting. In 1957, we were at the height of our nuclear war prep, with drop-and-cover drills regularly held for students. What was your memory of that day, were you injured, did the wreakage resemble a plane? For the most part, it seems the recording and the comments from witnesses/survivors have had a beneficial effect on those touched by that day. 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. I havent heard about any reunion in the offing but its a good idea. In a Jan. 28, 2007, story staff writer Cecilia Rasmussen reported: On Jan. 31, 1957, a clear, crisp Thursday morning, twin Scorpion fighter jets from Northrops Palmdale facility engaged in routine scissors interceptions -- first one plane, then the other, served as a target to test radar equipment. Russ, Another memory I have is of the television coverage. Hope this clears up a question of rotary ect. Unable to find anything, we tasked ourselves to create one. I may be mistaken, but didnt part of the problem in handeling this tragedy come from the lack of emergency medical facilities in the immediate area? Thanks again, Sheryl. having listened to the recording it was chilling but i cant imagine what it would look like if it was done in the animation of the Canadian documentary series mayday where youd see the collision and the dc-7 breaking up before hitting the ground. I was a few blocks away at Montegue Elementary School (I believe 1st Grade) when I heard the roaring noise of the impending crash. As we ran outside I could see the carnage from the crash, some bodies and pieces of plane laying everywhere. Ill be back soon. I remember thinking, please dont put one of those things in my hair or on my clothes. My brother passed away many years ago, so I cant talk to him about it. I rarely get to southern California but I will be in the area on June 4 and June 5. The scenario was an airplane crash out of John Wayne Airport. [4], The DC-7B, with a portion of its left wing shorn off, remained airborne for a few minutes. Gary. I am devastated by the deaths and injuries but so thankful that there were not more. I, too, hope that the unpleasantness you felt was an indication of catharsis. I too was adjacent to the junior HS. Calvin Trillin The post Democracy in Tennessee appeared first on The Nation. Clearly this photo was taken a few weeks after the crash. Debris was also strewn across the grounds of Terra Bella Elementary School, adjacent to the junior high, and Pacoima Congregational Church, next door to the school. The only crew member of either plane to survive was Curtis Adams, radarman of the military fighter jet. And, second, several years later at a reunion, Richard Williams told me he saw me get hit in the head. Im picturing Mr. Snyder hurling you back inside the classroom man, what a day! Here is the link to that and other fascinating, heart-rending stories from those who were there. There was fire. She said when the noise of the plane went over her classroom the kids all dove under their desks, without anyone yelling Drop!, and two kids grabbed the blinds and closed them, while she stood at the front of the room stunned by the concussion outside, not knowing what to do. Thanks for this site and the memories. My mom and dad were friends with Mr. and Mrs. Elsner from Wisconsin days. His sister and the rest of the Boyd/Brann family remember him with love. Both escaped injury. AS WE WERE RELEASED TO GO HOME THE SIGHT WILL NEVER LEAVE MY MY MIND. Russ, I have put text to your audio file into an mp4. I lived on Obeck, which was situated between Terra Bella and Kagle Canyon (north-south) and Canterbury and Beachy (east-west) so I was pretty far from the school and dont remember hearing anything unusual. May they Rest In Peace. You lived on Van Nuys Blvd. I cannot imagine what a horrifying experience that mustve been for anyone who was near the school at the time, and thank you for giving the people who were there a chance to discuss their memories, and perhaps find a way to deal with what must certainly be terrible memories of that day. Russ What does the school look like now? We used to visit him at the hospital while he was recovering and suffering through painful skin grafts. Not to mention, the lifelong fear of flying that many witnesses have to this day. It appears the kid is walking toward the school? It could have been much, much more tragic. HE PLAYED DURING LUNCH AND WHEN EVER ANY ONE WOULD LISTEN. 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. Lana(Brosamle) Hale. It was organized under the California Office of Emergency Services. Had no idea this existed. It rolled to the left and began an uncontrollable, spiraling, high-velocity dive earthward. My friend Donald Berizen was in his Boy Scout troop which was later named for him. I came to this site preparing for my 50 year Polytechnic High School class reunion September 14 & 15 in Ventura, CA. By the time they let us out of school, the bodies and the injured were taken away, we saw them fly over our heads in the helicopters, but the wreckage was still there, everywhere. I am sure she did this out of pure fear and not knowing what to expect. 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. He never forgot the sight he saw the rest of his life. April 3, 1957; UK Tests a Hydrogen Bomb May 15, 1957; Little Rock Crisis When I first heard the audio, that phrase, We have one life to live, jumped out at me almost seemed like a premonition. I dont know if this is accurate, but it was what I was told at the time. If your husband decides to listen to it, I hope it helps. I heard the planes crash, I watched the smoke rise, I ran inside our classroom with all the other kids wondering what we had just seen. Its crazy how she just said we have one life to live right before it happened. I am working on my audio skills and have new software to clean it up and correct the speed. Most Fire and Police Departments, and EMS agencies have adopted post incident stress debriefing or counseling programs (late 1970s). So no, I have no lasting fears of flying. I am rather dismayed to see that you have removed my post. I do still live in the Valley, but far from good old Beachy. Compared to the tape, the real thing probably seemed like an eternity. The May 19, 1957 episode of The CBS Radio Workshop ("The Theater of the Mind") was a discussion of this crash, including interviews with people who were witnesses and/or affected by the crash, including Ronnie Brann's mother and a close friend. God bless all of those who had family that were involved. And this was 2 years before the Buddy Holly crash. And then one of the guys pointed to the northeast and we caught sight of the F89 going down at probably a 45 degree angle and appeared to crash into the foothills(I think I heard later that it ended up in the La Tuna Canyon area). Paul Morse, who passed away a few years ago, was a very close friend of my family. When I got out I found that my parents had arranged to move to Palmdale, Ca. When I heard that sound I took off running for the basketball courts on the right side of the field. Thanks for commenting. When played back at normal speed, it will sound Chipmunked. The recording I posted is an exact copy of the original, although I did EQ it to bring out the voice and reduce tape noise. Hi Jill Pam often checks in to read the latest comments here. I was attending near-by Fernangeles Grammar Achool and remember that day vividly. I dont know when he passed on. I was hoping someone would tell me what they remember. I have a vague recollection, though, of shiny metallic shards falling from the sky. Thanks again. Ill shoot you an email. It was deafening. I was there and a classmate of your sister Pam. We crossed the Pacific Ocean four times in DC-7s. Also, you might be interested in the Then and Now site about the crash. I felt connected to the terrible history. I recognized her right away. I remember a thump then the screaming sound of the plane. About 80 students stood in the schoolyard transfixed, watching the plane hurtle toward them. 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. So maybe your dad did distribute copies to all the other Jr. High Schools. I couldnt believe what I was looking at. Children were running and screaming. as I watched the plane falling from the sky finally losing sight as it fell behind the mountain. I was glad to hear this recording of the sound. killing all 128 aboard on both of . Does the Harvard Kennedy School Serve the Peopleor Power? The sky was sprinkled with what looked like silver paper fluttering over our heads. At PJHS, I was good friends with John Ritoli who played with a band called the Showmen. The organizers believe the sound of an actual disaster will lend gravitas and realism to the drill. Last night I saw it again and it and a recent visit to San Fernando got me looking at pictures of the Valley in the 50s. 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. All of us at the fence line knew children were hurt and killed. Hmmmm Cedros Ave was not in Pacoima, Cedros is two blocks west of Van Nuys Blvd, I used to live on that street off Parthenia. On that day I was in 4th grade and in my classroom when we all heard the DC-7. At Every high school reunion we have a pre-party on Friday night and all of the men/boys sit around the table and tell their stories about that day. I am sure readers here will appreciate your familys story and the brave and loving actions of your mother on that day. I was five years Oldfield at a nearby nursery school when this happened. There was a tree planted to honor each of the boys that were killed. My mom came running out of the house, screaming for me to come home. After assuring the young ladys safety and involvement in counseling, I turned my attention to the broader family issues. I still remember some of the kids in my classes like Craig Bentley, Walter Gorse, Jeff Abraham, Pam Gates, Scott Roberts, Suzanne Maltz, Dennis Liff, Jim Roubal, As far as teachers, I remember Mr. Marto, Mrs. Oshatz, Mrs. Stowsky and I believe it was Mr. Praglin who taught class and kept his pack of cigarettes in his front shirt pocket. My brother was in the auditorium for graduation ceremonies, I was in the 4th grade on the playground for recess. I think dad had given Paul a copy of the tape back then. When I started in the fire service everyone was expected to just suck it up, and as many of you know, its not easy!. If not, I have yours and Ill send it to you. Im wondering if I had him as a teacher. My father was a Los Angeles Policeman stationed at the Van Nuys Station. I believe Evan was in one of dads classes. Is the beginning of her speech on the tape too, or is what you posted what you have? As far as I know, the law(s) still is on the books. My recollection is that there were windows all along the wall of the library looking toward Pacoima Jr. Hi. Thank you, Mr. Buchanan. I was sixteen then and even though miles away and knowing no one envolved, yet I was very traumitized by such a horror. I remember looking up and the sky being filled with what appeared to be confetti, debree from the crash. He played it for us once. Upon our arrival, she called the school to tell them that I had been found. Please contact me here if you have any information on Cindy. Thank you for your kind words about dad. No sign of the crash, such as debris or bodies, was ever found. Thinking of Evan and the other boys makes me wonder how their lives would have gone had fate been kinder. So far, the responses suggest that listening to the tape and commenting about it has been helpful to many, if only because the post offers a forum where they can get their feelings about that day off their chests. Even though I never met Evan, I grew up hearing about what happened. I too have some rare family video that is hosted on a pay site and worry now it might be lost to future generations when I stop paying the hosting fees when Im gone. My mom moved me to the other end of the valley because of the violence. Hopefully, we can wring something positive out of a terrible tragedy. Thank you so much for commenting and for the nice words about the rest of the blog. I just found this site. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Rebecca Grant Polish activist Justyna Wydrzyska is the first woman in Europe to be convicted of intent to aid an abortion. I, too, remember bits of metal raining down against the blue sky. Hi Phyllis I attended Beachy Ave. from Sept. 1957 to June 1962 (5th grade). I just spoke with my Dad about seeing your website and he told me that when they learned of the crash near the school they ran over to find me. Youre welcome. Thank you for this site. My sister, who was a friend of Evan Elsners, told me today that our parents, John and Eleanor Buchanan, attended Ronnies memorial service. Unfortunately, I havent a clue what the answer is. TY for the thread and my best to all. I miss my father and wonder what life would be like had he not perished; I was only 9 years old at the time. 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. In January 1957, a Douglas DC-7B collided with a U.S. Air Force F-89 jet over the San Fernando Valley. The most incredible image of all was the open window in the cockpit area with smoke coming out of it and what appeared to be the pilot with his head partially out. Who knows? I had harrowing moments in my years of flying, but nothing like that day. I was in Mrs. Coughlins class. Youve got the right Russell. Copilot Archie R. Twitchell, 50, of Northridge transmitted the last radio message from the crippled plane: Uncontrollable, uncontrollable midair collision. We are going in. Weve had it, boys. The journey back to the morning of Jan. 31, 1957, began with a phone call from retired nurse Mary Lewandowski, who wondered how to find out what had happened to the two boys she'd spent four months caring for at Sun Valley Hospital nearly 50 years earlier. By the way, I have a feeling that this discussion will be going on until we are both shuffling down the streets of Leisure World, so your comment is by no means late.. The post Haiti, April 2023: Soon There Will Be No One Left to Kidnap appeared first on The Nation. the sky. Your comment is the first wide-angle account written here. We lived only a few blocks from the school and my mother had been out hanging laundry. Thank you for your posting. Ill never forget seeing one of the students hopping away to safety on one leg. Thanks Terry Brown. This 64 year old 2nd grader will never forget. Airplane debris from the mid-air crash over Pacoima Junior High on January 31 . He was active in the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce and community business activities. The learning curve is steep but if I get the hang of it, the tape will add a great deal to the training by making it much more realistic and that is a very crucial element with these type of drills. About the exams i have to tell you that you were totally right. Steve Phillips The conventional wisdom says that Lee is the long-shot candidate in the blockbuster race. Thanks for commenting. And Larry Bakken. To be honest even after sheeding tears i still cant stop whenever i think about these kids. I think I was about a year after you. Russell- My classroom was located adjacent to the fence that separated the two schools. I looked up and there were gigantic waves of flames in the field directly next to my classroom. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. Ive heard from many that the school staff handled the situation exceptionally well. Actually, played might be overstating it somewhat. Now it makes me think of your father too (but in a good way). Many Pacoima JH alums have commented there. You reminded me that my sister, who happened to be at the P.E. I Dont know how to send it to you. After the crash I was in the hospital for several months. I was injured and was told I was awake and running before I was hit but cant remember anything. Thank you both for clearing up the graduation rehearsal/American Legion mystery. I didnt live close to the event but was scheduled to fly on a United DC7 on Feb. 2nd to boot camp on the East coast. All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. Mark Boone,David Jones and of course Ritchie Vallens (Richard Vallenswella) made our 9th grade year full of music..they would entertain us at lunch time.we were happy young people! One day near the end of my involvement with the family, she said something about body parts, children running and screaming, and airplane. As horrible as it was for the badly injured and, of course, the surviving families, had the plane slammed into the auditorium, with you, your mom, my father and a few hundred other souls inside, the devastation would have been too awful to imagine. It is pretty cool. Some dived to the ground; others were running when the blast of debris overtook them. I lived on Daventry street and attended Telfair Avenue School. I think the last time I saw him was on stage together with an offshoot of the Showmen we opened for Eric Burton and the Animals at the Carousel Theater in, uh, Covina, I think. My family moved to the west side of Pacoima so I wasnt able to attend PJH until 1960. [10][11] The program described when and how both planes took off from their respective airfields, and included discussion of how the Pacoima Junior High School was having the 7th-grade students outside for exercise. My father was the pilot of the DC-7 and my parents had moved to the Pacific Palisades from La Canada two years prior to the crash. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited]. Hi Jerry Wish I could help you contact Monk, but all I know about him is that he submitted this piece a few years ago and he agreed to let me post it. He thought he found it on fake Rent-A-Hitman site, feds say, Search continues after 3 sailors on Mexico-to-San Diego trip go missing amid rough seas. I looked up toward my right and saw a big airplane (I was in the second grade, about 7 years old) on fire. Pamela Carr Wolfson. I do remember seeing shiny pieces of metal falling from the sky, though. God bless the lost souls, the injured and their families. But he NEVER complains or asks why me?This recording is riveting. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.Subscribe for more forgotten history: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sEmXUuWIFlxRIFBRV6VXQ?sub_confirmation=1.Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:https://teespring.com/stores/the-history-guyScript by THG#aviation #thehistoryguy #california Little fellow well, I suppose we all were little back then, but he was littler. My mother and friends mother were in the auditorium as well. Of the many times I have related the story to people through the years, my most vivid recall has been of the line in Lindas commencement speech about having only one life to live. I also remember seeing ceiling tiles falling and hanging lamps swaying back and forth. Sadly, while researching the crash I found that Coach Vardanian died in June 1964 (Heroes and Teachers Possemato, et al., Google Books) a mere seven years after his heroism at age 34. I just listened again and he could very well be saying jet blast. At any rate, it sounds a lot closer to jet blast than it was just loud and I thank you for the correction. I wanted to let you know that we had our disaster drill 2 weeks ago and the recording really caught people off guard. MIchael Russell also a graduate of James Monroe High School, as was Donna. Ill never forget the confusion, fear, and terror I felt. It seemed longer in person. He grabbed a jeep and took off for Terra Bella. Of course we didnt know what all had taken place until after we got home from school as communication in those days was nothing like today. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Hi Shirley thanks for your account of that day. Thats all there is to it. I remember Evan Elsner, but I did not know him. The explosion knocked my Dad off the chair he was sitting on. He now lives in Boulder City, NV. Needless to say, it was one heck of a day for mom. Oh, my. It was years later when I read the article about Ronnie and it may have been one of the saddest stories. They wouldnt talk to me about it or answer questions and I have wondered all these years what happened. That September, the brand new Liggett St. This is so weird, I just happened to be thinking of that air plane crash tonite and I thought Id look up to see if there was anything about it on the internet and boom, Russell Buchanan name popped up, I do believe we were good friends at age 5, I may even have a pic of you and I playing together, Ill look later and send sometime. Our class just got off the bus on Terra Bella St to go through the north side gate of the school along the walk in front of the bungalows by the fence that divided the jr hight and elementary. Since I didnt remember what happened that day, Gary helped me put some of it together. My dad had joined the Air National Guard in Idaho about a year before, and had gotten a transfer to the Van Nuys National Guard Base (146th Fighter-Interceptor Wing). Im glad I was able to provide a forum for a few of the witnesses and survivors. I heard he came out of the Marine Corps, slim and buff. Your You Tube idea is good. I live in Ukiah, California now (see post above about me witnessing the crash while in the 2nd grade at Strathern Street Elementary School). I just wanted to bring you up to date on this very historic and important audio you are allowing us to use for the disaster drill this summer. 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. It must have been the DC7 falling to earth. I have been to that site, and youre right, there are some very interesting and moving entries there. Thank you for posting the recording. 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