He said something about getting back to the Base because he hadnt checked out. Russ, I also knew Pam. I was born in 52 and started at Beachy when I was six. The fire bells started ringing and we were led outside. When we were finally allowed to leave the P.E. The bus trip that day went to Roger Jessups Farm. Yeah, it seems kids of the Cold War era were so extensively drilled with drop and cover that they just naturally assumed the explosion was the Rooskies unloading nuclear hell on Pacoima. Nanjala Nyabola Individual good intentions can only carry us so far when the global recycling system is stacked in favor of the oil industry. The pilot, Roland Earl Owen, 35, of Palmdale, went down with the jet in La Tuna Canyon; the radar operator, Curtiss A. Adams, 27, parachuted to safety. The teacher yelled for everyone to huddle together in the middle of the classroom. After wed been there for a while a man named Kurt Adams came to see me.he told me he was the navigator that ejected from the jet and the only survivor of the two planes. Back then, my dad moonlighted as a news broadcaster at KGIL and, I believe, one of the radio network affiliates. Thanks for the appreciation. When the plane hit, the shock waves rolled me over and over and over. Pretty amazing, considering that today that same brain cant even remember where it put its keys. Thanks for your recollection of that day. I havent talked to that guy since those days. Wow, what a prance down memory lane. I can talk about the experience, but right now Im shaking inside. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Hi Dolores . Our bungalow classroom backed up to the fence division. Not to mention, the lifelong fear of flying that many witnesses have to this day. I assume you went to Pacoima after Terra Bella. I attended Fernaneles Elementer, in sun valley 6 th grade. Unfortunately Raymond was killed in a motorcycle accident in his twenties. Wow, haunting yet amazingthank you for sharing! I remember the church yard, the Terra Bella school yard, and the playground covered with pieces of junk. Thanks for your perspective on that day. I went to Santa Monica College, and graduated from a business college with a degree in accounting and had a successful 40-year carrer in administration/accounting, married my husband, whom I met while spending our summers at Lake Arrowhead, have one daughter who is 41 and we are now retired and moved in 2007 to Prescott, AZ, after spending 34 years in Pasadena. Jan. 31, 1957 was a tragic day in the northern San Fernando Valley. Their names were Albert Pardo and John Sain, she said. 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. Related to the 1957 crash, I was 5 years old and playing on my parents front porch. Hello, Pamela I finished 3rd grade there. Both of my younger sisters attended the elementary school next door to Pacoima Junior High. Kris. They were among I was only five at the time and many blocks from the school. [citation needed], The 1957 crash was discussed on the May 19, 1957, episode of The CBS Radio Workshop (entitled "Heaven Is In the Sky"). He had been working in the motor pool when the Air Base was alerted about the crash. The one thing I recall of that day (I was five) was the thousand pieces of metal, as you put it, falling out of the sky. Gasoline was spraying all across the field. The post Changes Everything appeared first on The Nation. The post The Surprisingly Durable Myth of Donald Trump, Anti-Imperialist appeared first on The Nation. The sound became a scream and I froze along with everyone in my classroom. The class or I (not sure which) was in the library at Beachy on the Easterly side of the school. TIME WISE, OTHERWISE MORE OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GYM FIELD. At Beachy, I remember being in the classes of Mrs. Oshatz and Mr. Marto. Thanks for writing. 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. 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. If you dont mind, Id like to include a link to your site on my Pacoima page. If youre still having difficulty with it, let me know and Ill talk to WordPress about it.w. Im glad he is still alive to this day. Well done, Mr. Masek. I think dad had given Paul a copy of the tape back then. As I looked out the window, almost instantly people came from nowhere. PJH Student from the 60. were often part of the proceedings. No sign of the crash, such as debris or bodies, was ever found. Thanks again for providing such a helpful service for those who need it and thank you especially for your sensitive and very specific comments to each person who has written his/her account. One of my Facebook friends living in Dahlonega, GA posted an article about the plane crash that killed Ritchie Valens. I thought it was actually a high school and it was a football field, but that was the perspective of a 5 year old. I looked across to the other building and saw a teacher named Mr. Snyder. I was 8 years old, but was at Plummer Elementary in Sepulveda, nearly 3 miles SW of Pacoima JHS. 1 February 1957; Page 11; San Bernardino Sun, Volume 63, Number 132, 1 February 1957 Page 11. . Unauthorized duplication is prohibited]. I think for me it was validating. He was a captain in the US Army Air Force. Even people who lived a considerable distance away some who only read about it in the paper were profoundly affected. It sounds like you saw what I saw the falling metallic confetti which is just about all I remember from that day (I was the same age as you). Howerver, I did not ask permission to go out and get it, I just ran out, grabbed it and was not in the gym side door but a few seconds when the plane crashed. My mother received telegram condolences from all over the world -my father was in the Air Transport Command during WWII, then went to work for Seaboard & Western training pilots in various countries to fly the Douglas aircraft, then went to work for Douglas as a test pilot. I was amazed to run across your recording of the sounds of that tragic day. I was dripping, head to toe, from the oil and now walking with a limp rather than running. My heart goes out to any and all who experienced this disaster. I was in the third grade. I was traumatized for years, fearful of every jet flying overhead, I am still uncomfortable flying. He recalled gazing up at his chute on the way down and seeing widening circles of blue sky. But now, thanks to Gary blanks filled. At first it looked like one plane and its landing gear then as they got closer we could see it was two planes, then we saw the parachute. A taller boy, standing to my right, said look there is a leg. I said if that is a leg, then where is the rest of the I then began to see more. I was 18 years old when this crash took place. They had come to the school because, of course, they had children there. I cant begin to imagine the terror and sadness he must have been feeling. Terrified, I couldnt even budge. And, second, several years later at a reunion, Richard Williams told me he saw me get hit in the head. I am 73 yrs old now and live in Tulsa,Okla. 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. Pam and I have exchanged condensed life stories via email as we didnt talk much that night. The post Nothing Encapsulates the False Promise of Capitalism Like Plastic appeared first on The Nation. Since I went to Pacoima 64-67, I missed him too. I forgot to mention in the story that the adjacent church was my familys church. At the very least, it seems I would have remembered how shook up my mother was her husband (teacher) and daughter (student) were at Pacoima JHS that day. 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. Russ, thank you for hosting this area where people who experienced the Pacoima plane crash can come to share and support one another. I didnt look up, but I remember the horrible loud sound, like nothing natural, and then the crash and the earth shook. The community calls for the redevelopment of the . Dad was teaching English at Pacoima and was also coaching kids on their graduation speeches. On January 31, 1957, a Douglas DC-7B transport plane crashed into the school yard of Pacoima Junior High School, 9919 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, after colliding with a Northrop F-89J Scorpion jet trainer plane. Richard Berger wrote that he was in the hospital for 7 weeks, I think I was there longer. and Garber, so our vantage points were probably quite similar. The class had just started to file out for recess when the whine of the plane cought our attention. Yeah, thats what I remember dad telling me. My brother, Marvin, who was also at Pacoima Jr. High that day, may be able to tell you something about one of the boys who was injured. Definitely left a mark on my young memory. I havent seen it in years. The two schools shared a common chain link fence about 10 feet high. Two students were struck and killed by this wreckage and debris. Then, when I got to Pacoima Jr. High the drills just stopped. How on earth did I just remember that I cant even remember where I put the keys an hour ago?) There was a small courtyard between our building and the building next to us. Within minutes we knew that it had been an airplane that crashed into Pacoima Jr. High School. I can only imagine the terror and bewilderment you and your classmates must have experienced in those moments. 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. Years later, my husband worked with a gentlemen named Pat, who lost his leg in the event. \pard\pardeftab720\sl400\partightenfactor0 It made me think of the crews that had responded to the real thing in Pacoima. Interestingly enough, my dad worked as a jet mechanic at the Air Force base where the Scorpian Jet flew out of. Cmdes thanks for commenting. I turned around to see all the debri in the air. 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. A perimeter was established, and we all stood outside the barriers, for several hours, watching ambulances and police and news trucks come and go. Your You Tube idea is good. I havent heard about any reunion in the offing but its a good idea. I was playing outside. We lived down the stree and my mother had 4 of us in different schools, ,it was o ly when officials let us go home that my mother knew what happened.just wanted to share tbis. Hi Russ.who knows? Adams injuries were not critical and he was able to eject. He had good social skills at an early age. I was in the 4th grade at Montague that day. His friend, Richard Berger, was not as lucky and got severe burns over much of his back and legs. I remember hearing a tape of the crash that the music teacher, Mr Morse, had. I remember the floor jumped. We had to get under our desks. The windows of our classroom faced north and provided a nearly unobstructed view of the events. If possible,could you give her my email?? My sister and I lost touch with Cindy, his sister, in the late sixties. Distinct craters were made in the playground by each of the four engines and the main center fuselage section. Thanks for the opportunity. [6][7] Recurring nightmares of the disaster led to Valens' fear of flying,[8] which he overcame after he launched his music career. The comments here show how deeply etched that day is in so many peoples memories. I also was a student at Terra Bella Elementary School and witnessed the crash from my school room. I came to this site preparing for my 50 year Polytechnic High School class reunion September 14 & 15 in Ventura, CA. I knew Evan well. Both our families were put through an emotional wringer that day. Sincerely, Susan Masters Kowalewski, Batavia, Illinois. Here is the link to that and other fascinating, heart-rending stories from those who were there. 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. And yes, you have my permission to use the audio in your classes. Your comment is the first wide-angle account written here. He was in Kindergarden at the school next door to Pacoima Jr High. Yeah, a few other commenters wrote about either being sprayed with hot oil or seeing other kids covered with the stuff I wonder if they were remembering seeing your uncle. For those who have nightmares, I have always called them chase dreams. I used to have a lot of them, especially during my Paramedic years. He lived just a couple of streets over from where we lived. (And I hope you dont mind that I included a link to your page.). See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here. Yeah, Ill bet that was a difficult sound to shake. I developed the Orange County Mass Casualty Plan as my class project. Thank God for that. 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! 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. We got in the car and drove to the Pacoima Junior High. My name is Phil Smith. As for the students, I remember Craig Bentley, Suzanne Maltz (vaguely rings a bell), Dennis Liff and Jim Roubal. I dont remember Craig Bentley, but he sounds like a kid with interesting hobbies. On that day, two planes collided in mid-air, crashing to the ground in the school yard of Pacoima Junior High. Unfortunately, I havent a clue what the answer is. After completing his shift, my dad pulled me (kicking and screaming) from under the desk. It wasnt exactly the way I remembered it, but it was there. As it completed the turn, the jet slammed into the wing of a DC-7B transport plane returning to Douglas Aircrafts Santa Monica plant on a routine test run. For weeks after the crash there were people on the field, on hands and knees, picking up pieces of the wreckage. My pastor, Apostle William T. Broadous, of Calvary Baptist Church of Pacoima had his pelvis crushed by falling debris that day and has since undergone several major surgeries. At least, I hope so. I find it interesting that he is walking solo through the crash site. Yes, its sobering to think of what might have happened if the DC-7 had veered one way or the other into the auditorium, classrooms or the many nearby residences. The news of the crash spread like wild fire through the school even though we were miles away. This is something I have been meaning to do for decades and now I will actually be able to do this. I retired in 2001 and am down to about one a month now. I heard he came out of the Marine Corps, slim and buff. Its interesting to read all of the comments. It seemed longer in person. Thank you for complimenting my youthful selfs social skills. Yeah, putting up this Pacoima crash page has proved to be an amazing experience. That had to be horrible.,God bless all who were inpacted. He was serious about educating his students and always had a very classy demeanor. What caused the plane to break apart must have been due to extreme speed going down and turning in all directions. We attended the 50 yr memorial and tree planting at the school Jan. 31, 2007. when the schools power goes out and the recording winds to a stop. I guess 20,000 + feet. But he NEVER complains or asks why me?This recording is riveting. The post Dont Count Barbara Lee Out of the California Senate Race appeared first on The Nation. I think this makes you my homey, Susan. She lived right on across the street from the school. Hi, my distant cousin was Evan Clark Meddy Elsner who was killed as a result of this crash. As you are probably aware, many credit your father for managing to avoid nearby buildings and preventing a much larger calamityyes, thank you Russ, for adding to the story! [] event can be seen here. HE CARRIED HIS GUITAR WHERE EVER HE WENT. On that day I was in 4th grade and in my classroom when we all heard the DC-7. Hell, I was only in the 4th grade, I had watched the movies, but this was nothing like the movies, this was real. She wanted to tell us about the crash before anyone else at the school. She mentioned a couple of children by name (sadly I made no note of them). Does the Harvard Kennedy School Serve the Peopleor Power? I dont know if that contributed to my career decisionbut I suspect that tragic event and being too young to help may have somehow led me to the LAFD. One of the most interesting and enlightening comments yet. I was in the Auditorium as a B 9th grade student. Thanks, Im ok. I would be glad to send a copy of the audio there is no video to you in mp3 format. He seemed to like the attention and didnt appear bothered by it. Once I approve a comment, it is there for good unless the commenter requests that I remove it. A little detour here. I think you have my email address Ill check. I still have all of my Beachy class photos. Shirley told me that mom knew about the crash (Shirley forgot that mom knew very well about the crash, being next door at the church and all) but did not know how you and dad were for quite some time. Thank you for your recollection. It was so long ago. I was walking out the school gate when I heard and then saw the DC 7 crashing. As we ran outside I could see the carnage from the crash, some bodies and pieces of plane laying everywhere. Most Fire and Police Departments, and EMS agencies have adopted post incident stress debriefing or counseling programs (late 1970s). 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