My dad, John Buchanan, moved on to LA Valley College from Pacoima Jr. High in 1958 so you wouldnt have been in his class. Fascinating and, considering the effect her unresolved feelings might have had on her daughter, very sad. 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. That day was definitely seared into many young minds. Unfortunately, I havent a clue what the answer is. I had two cousins, Kathy & Patricia Zeise, who were in class at Pacoima Jr High that day. Not to mention, the words Pacoima Crash intrigued the hell out of me. Thank you. Both our families were put through an emotional wringer that day. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Hell, even in the mid-60s I remember drilling at Beachy Elementary (near PJHS) sometimes we would even drop-and-cover along with the air-raid sirens the last Friday of every month (I guess the teachers thought the sirens brought a little realism production value to the whole thing). I suspect hydraulic lines were severed causing loss of control to flaps and the like. I have seen La Bamba a few times and its reference to this crash always makes me think about my roots again. 1957 Pacoima California Mid-Air Collision The History Guy remembers a mid-air collision between two planes flying test flights over a California city and its connection to Ritchie Valens. As soon as it disappeared on the horizon a large black plume of smoke appeared. Yeah, Ill bet that was a difficult sound to shake. He would have loved to hear that you remembered him as a darn good teacher over 50 years later. Men were working on jets in different states of repair. My mother, Pauline Taylor, covered the story as a reporter for the Pacoima Post. Was your dad assigned to work the crash or did he go there to see if you were OK? Although hosting these Pacoima pages has turned out to be a labor of love and learning experience for me, I truly appreciate the thanks. Airplane debris from the mid-air crash over Pacoima Junior High on January 31 . Then Ill see if I can find that persons email address. We heard the crash and our windows shook. God bless the lost souls, the injured and their families. Im now 63, born in 1952. (LogOut/ All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. START is now a module of the National Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) curriculum. 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. My Great Uncle Mike aka Mike Galasso was in this. I was sitting in class (2nd grade next to the window (Horace Mann Elementary, Burbank) I yelled to my teacher LOOK! To be honest even after sheeding tears i still cant stop whenever i think about these kids. killing all 128 aboard on both of . I havent talked to that guy since those days. 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. You know, you are not alone in your memory of seeing the pilot gesturing from the cockpit. I am surprised at myself. Did your dad turn off the tape recorder, or did it shut off when the power failed? Send me an email address and Ill try to send the mp3 I made as an attachment. I lived on Bonanza St, just two blocks from the PJH. Although the DC7 was a prop plane, I seemed to have associated all forms of jet noise to the crash. I remember January 31, 1957, like it was yesterday. During our post incident review, we tried to figure out what would be the best way to triage patients. I wonder what made the Fire bells to go off? Again, thanks for your comment and interest, Thanks for sharing Russ, wow amazing to read and hear the recording. I still remember seeing a great deal of plane parts scattered across the gym field. Later while I was in grade school I became friends with a girl whos brother was killed in the crash. Ill refer to to this site which Im sure she will find interesting. Ive often wondered if the offspring of those killed on that awful day would one day visit this site. office waitingfor permission to retrieve the jacket she had forgotten on the athletic field when the DC-7 came down on the field. 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. did someone set them off or? Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. 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. She scooped me up and put me in the backseat of the car. I remember her telling me that her mom was hanging clothes on the line to dry when all happened and part if one of the planes landed at her feet and didnt hurt anything. My mom and dad were friends with Mr. and Mrs. Elsner from Wisconsin days. 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 sat in the rear of the room closest to the back door. Then and Now column in Sunday's California section about a collision between a fighter jet and a transport plane over Pacoima in 1957 incorrectly stated that the accident generated more. Wow, I remember almost all the students names you mentioned Gates, Liff, Roberts and Maltz and all the teachers you named. I posted a comment on Russ Buchanans website some time ago asking anyone who was on the field that day to contact me. Your dadwherever he ismust be very proud of you, because its clear that you hold gently and carefully the hearts of those who experienced this event. 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). However, it appears you overcame your fear of flying IN A BIG WAY. I felt comfortable enough with her at that point to poke around a little. The first kid to see it saw the impact flash. Since then I became a military pilot and have a greater understanding of flight along with the risks associated with flying. I was only 7 at the time, and I went to Terra Bella Elementary, next door. My name is Phil Smith. In 1993 I entered a bachelors degree program at March Air force Base (more jet noise). 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. 1957 Pacoima mid-air collision - Wikipedia 1957 . I feel so bad for the co pilot..when he said in his last radio message Told you we should of brought chutes, Good- by everybody That kills meMy God I hope he did not suffer. RB, Right, but all Im saying is that Wollensak was owned by 3M at one point.or had a very close relationship. In 1957, we were at the height of our nuclear war prep, with drop-and-cover drills regularly held for students. Embarrassingly enough, Ive never really thought about its continuation as a free, public-accessible document after Ive shuffled into the Great Beyond, or at least failed to maintain my account here for some other, less dramatic reason. She wanted to tell us about the crash before anyone else at the school. I assume you went to Pacoima after Terra Bella. Later that afternoon when my father came home, we drove to the seen. appeared first on The Nation. A lot of human misery occurred on that day. ball of fire.and what appeared to look like HI Russ .. Douglas DC-7B, Continental Airlines. Cmdes thanks for commenting. I do remember Brian OConnell and think I could find him some of the class pictures from Beachy. office next to the gym field when the plane went down, thought it was a nuclear attack, as well. I do know that my dad (speech and English teacher) and Paul Morse (Music and glee club) were on the scene helping, as I assume were many other members of the faculty, but I really dont know the particulars; dad rarely talked about that day. 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. About the exams i have to tell you that you were totally right. Terry Brown (916)364 0440). I am grateful. I went to Pacoima Jr. High in the mid-70s and remember some of my neighbors in Arleta speaking about it. If nothing else came from your efforts you should be satisfied that you helped out a survivor! Thank you for your posting. Within minutes we knew that it had been an airplane that crashed into Pacoima Jr. High School. Matt Davies Again. I remember, like so many others that have written, the pieces of metal, bolts and whatever the pieces are of an exploded plane falling all around. Thanks, Russ, for sharing all of this amazing material. Dad used to tell me that he thought Valens(uela) was very talented and was always trying to get him to leave the band he performed with and go solo. Certainly less frightening, but just as capable of creating lasting, disturbing impressions the sight of two aircraft plummeting to their doom and the human cost implied, would be enough to sear into anyones brain. Your Dad was one of my favorite teachers! So one link lead to another and as I read all of the stories, it brings tears to me! I ran out of my classroom and saw the plane spiraling down and then the huge plume of smoke. He was just a really good guy and very well liked. So no, I have no lasting fears of flying. I was able to talk to her about it a couple more times. I was tossed into the jeep and we got out of there. Appreciate any comments. 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. Again, thank you very much for your detailed glimpse into one of the San Fernando Valleys saddest days. Thanks for contributing your vivid memory of that day. 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. My Father, Bill Carr, was the pilot of the DC-7. Moment later a student barged into the room to tell of the crash and the pilot para hooting. Women and men wept openly and copiously. As I got older, I guessed that the jets that were coming and going were probably working the other incident, the downed Scorpion. I cannot believe I came across this recording. Thanks for your comment and attaboy, I appreciate it. I heard the screaming of the plane as it came in, and when I ran to window to see what it was, there was a loud explosion and a huge fireball that seemed to go 100 plus feet into the air. April 21 I went to my 50th San Fernando Class reunion. Hello Phyllis, I was in the auditorium getting ready to graduate.LInda Lutrell was a very good friend of mine.I will never forget that day and just now listened to the recording.I was shocked at my reaction to it.I went to grade school and Jr. High with Linda and wouod love to connect with her again,its been years..My name then was Lana Brosamle.Linda was in our little group of girls.Pat Cox, Dorothy Alexander, Marlene Sherman. 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. Here is the link to that and other fascinating, heart-rending stories from those who were there. Off to one side, a large plane engine lay embedded 15 ft down in the Earth, smoldering with an acrid fume. I was only five at the time and many blocks from the school. I was doing some research on this so thanks for posting the information. 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! I thought I might be able to click and drag it to the comment section but that didnt work. Kris, If there is anything I can help you with, let me know. 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