KC-97G, # 52-2711 crashed 29 Oct 1957, 35 miles north of Flagstaff.

Summary:  2711 departed at 6:30am from Walker AFB in Roswell, New Mexico, for a 9-hour, low-level survey flight that would take the plane over the southwestern United States. The purpose was to determine minimum flight restrictions for B-47's on this newly developed route. The KC-97 was to fly at an altitude of 1,000 feet above the ground, observing and documenting any possible obstacles in its path. 

The crew had been advised that the weather in northern Arizona had been foul early that morning, but that it would clear by the time the Stratofreighter arrived in the area. Unfortunately, the weather actually turned much worse and the cloud ceiling was reported at only 400 feet in Winslow. 

At 7:20am, the aircraft reported in over Albuquerque, New Mexico, and continued its flight normally until it reached Winslow, Arizona. Captain Schumard made his second routine VFR position report to Winslow Radio at 8:24am, reporting he had flown over Winslow at 8:19am. But it wasn't until 6 minutes later, at 8:30, that the Winslow tower operator observed a heavy, four-engined aircraft approach from the north, fly over the tower, make a shallow left turn, and then depart on what was believed to be a northwest heading. The aircraft soon disappeared into the heavy cloudbank. 

The aircraft was later observed flying over the town of Gray Mountain at an altitude of 60 feet, where the cloud ceiling dropped to a few feet above the ground. Seconds later, an explosion was heard as it impacted on a cloud-shrouded mountain, killing all 16 airmen.

The aircraft impacted into the face of a cliff and spread wreckage down the mountain over 200 yards. Most of the aircraft was cleaned up soon after the crash and little aluminum remains at the site today. The engines, landing gear and numerous other steel parts remain. A few personal effects accidentally left behind from the crash crew were found at the site and effort is being taken to locate next of kin. To date, I have been able to return 5 of 8 dogtags to family members.

The crew: Captains Harold Shumard, Robert Fergsun, David Morris;1st Lt's Charles Dees, Don Castor, Richard Taylor; Majors Irving Olstein, John Schardong, David Whitmore, David Mills, Wilbur Abney; Lt/Col Milton Poole, T/Sgt Richard Noel, Ronald Ruble; S/Sgt James Hicks and Sherman Woods.

To read the feature article on this crash in Smithsonian Air & Space magazine, click here- All That Remains

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