R4D-5 17145 crash East of Flagstaff on Anderson Mesa on April 28 1944

R4D-5 17145 crash East of Flagstaff on Anderson Mesa on April 28, 1944

R4D-5, 17145, departed Oakland on the evening of April 27, 1944, for an East bound flight to Winslow, AZ. The aircraft encountered a snow storm southwest of Winslow. While heading to Winslow, the R4D-5 descended too early and crashed on to the top of Anderson Mesa on April 28, 1944. If the plane descended less than a half mile later, it would have cleared the mesa. Three men survived.

Fatally injured: Elmer W. Nigg, Edward S. Blackwell, Rudolph J. Schilder, R. A. Zachman, James H. Callaway, E. J. Weeks, G. J. Schultz, R. Langston, L. B. Mitchell, C. Coburn, P. H. Jungermann, W. F. Thomas. W. D. Lacy, B. B. Kobuszewski, A. E. Boniello, P. A. Hamel, A. W. Wartzack, E. E. Helmond, J. Dalesio.

Remains of the R4D on Anderson Mesa. (U.S. Navy photo)

Portion of a strut and another engine part.

Part of the exhaust.

Evidence of burning among the scattered debris.

C-47s in flight. The R4D was the Navy version of the C-47.

Part of the landing gear.

One of the radial engines broke free after th crash. (U.S. Navy photo)

80 years after tragedy that claimed 19 men, family members visit crash site