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Web Site Updated  08/27/10

1st Lt. Richard M. Theiler USAF Reserve, assigned to the Air Defense Command, pilot of the Lockheed T-33A 51-9227 that disappeared after take-off from LAX on 10/15/55. 1st Lt. Paul D. Smith USAF Reserve assigned to the ADC was in the back seat. Their mission was a navigation training that included night flying experience. Theiler was from Tomahawk, WI. and Smith was from Midland, TX. (Photo courtesy of the Theiler Family & the Smith Family)

T-33A story

Lt. Peter J. Dannhardt was lost sea following a night bail out over the Santa Barbara Channel from USAAF B-24E 42-7011 on 7/4/43. (Photo courtesy Marc McDonald)

Lt. Robert H. Prosser was lost at sea following his bail out from USAAF B-24E 42-7011 on 7/4/43. (Photo courtesy Marc McDonald)

A routine night navigation training mission ended in tragedy on 7/4/43 when two engines failed and the pilot of B-24E 42-7011 ordered his crew to bail out near Santa Barbara, CA. Lt. Dannhardt and Prosser were the first to jump not knowing they were over the Pacific Ocean. The remaining eight crewmen who bailed out moments later came down in the hills and rugged mountains near Santa Barbara. 42-7011, continued on unmanned and crashed ten miles north of Santa Barbara near Pine Mountain.

New Veteran Picture

Let’s us the second photo of with the caption: USAAF Flight Officer George F. Churchwell Jr. who died in the 6/10/43 crash of B-24E 42-7119 near Weed, CA. (Photo courtesy Churchwell family via Bruce Batchelder)

New Veteran Picture

USMC Major Robert Frazer noted combat Ace with six confirmed kills and recipient of the DFC while assigned to VMF-211 "Wolf Pack". Maj. Frazer was killed near USMCAS Goleta, CA on 6/18/45 during combat tactics flight. (Photo via Marc McDonald)

New Veteran Picture 

USNR pilot Lt/JG Roy Arnold Hopen was part of a flight of nine USN aircraft en route from Medford, Ore. to Alameda, CA. on 11/14/45. The flight encountered an occluded cold front and was ordered to return to Medford, but the lead pilot chose to continue on with eight of the nine planes reaching Red Bluff safely. Grumman F6F-3 Bu No 25980 flown by Lt/JG R. A. Hopen was posted missing and an extensive search was launched, but no trace of Bu No 25980 or its pilot was found.  On June 12/46 the pilot’s father, Jens Hopen commenced a five week search by air and on the ground in the area west and northwest of Shasta City. The 1946 search effort was funded by Jens Hopen and sadly was not successful.

On 10/31/46 the wreck of Bu No 25980 was found by a deer hunter near Boulder Peak in the Trinity Mountains. Although no remains were not found initially the hunter did find Lt/JG Roy A. Hopen’s dog tags, and the case was resolved. However, in September 1962 the Hopen crash site was stumbled on again and was reported as another missing aircraft wreck. (Photo courtesy of the Hopen Family via Bruce Batchelder)  

New Veteran Picture

USN LCDR. Howard Emerson Clark was killed in the crash of Douglas AD-4N Bu No 126977 on 1/14/53 in the rugged San Jacinto Mnts. east of Hemet, CA. LCDR. Clark was a Naval Academy graduate and a highly decorated submariner during WWII. He earned is Gold Wings in 1947 and continued to serve his country with
distinction until his death. (Photo courtesy Howard. W. Clark)

Wilbur J. "Gus" Thomas 7th ranked USMC Ace of WWII credited with 18.5 kills. (USMC Official)

F7F-3P story

Lt. Cmdr. Robert F. "Bob" Coad USNR was aboard Lockheed SP-2E Bu No 131487 that crashed in bad weather in the Santa Ana Mountains on 2/11/69 with loss of the entire crew:
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Fredrerick
Lt. Cmdr. Beal G. Dolven, Jr.
Lt. Cmdr. Oliver B. Walley
A/O Walter R. Jacobson
A/O John E. Hansen
A/MM Harris R. Hendrickson
(Photo courtesy John Ibson)

Harris Russell Hendrickson Aviation Machinist Mate USN in photo circa 1942 at age twenty. A/MM Hendrickson had a long career in the U.S. Navy that ended tragically on 2/11/69 aboard Lockheed SP-2E Bu No 131487.
(Photo courtesy Gail Hendrickson)

OCRegister.com article
ABC 7 News Report

USAAF F/O Ray Schwartz, Jr. in his dress uniform shortly before his death on 6/26/44 while flying Vultee BT-13A 41-11444 near Wrightwood, CA. (Photo courtesy Bill DeBolt)

USAAF F/O Ray Schwartz, Jr. wearing his winter flight gear. Both he and F/O Arthur S. Sears were killed on 6/26/44 during a routine training mission west of Wrightwood, CA. while flying a Vultee BT-13A based at Victorville AAB. (Photo courtesy Bill DeBolt)

U.S. Navy Commander DeForest Joralmon, CO of VA-155 lost his life in the crash of Douglas A4D-2 Bu No  142817 on 7/8/59 in the Mojave Desert.

The memorial marker honoring U.S. Navy Commander DeForest Joralmon.

A4D-2 story