US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Sgt. William V. Yates
Home: California
Squadron:
Service# 39692125
Awards:
Pilot Capt. Ben H. Gibson
Target: Transport
Mission Date: 25-Dec-44
Serial Number: # 43-16151
Aircraft Model C-47B Army Transport
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: Quartzite, Arizona
Cause: Weather
This Dakota was on the final leg of it's flight to Los Angeles. The pilot departed Tucson, Arizona for Los Angeles, despite being warned that severe thunderstorms and low clouds could hinder his visibility. About 20 Miles southeast of Quartzsite, Arizona the low-hanging clouds shrouded the mountains and peaks in the area, including Black Mesa. Tragically, the C-47 slammed into the side of the mesa about 12 feet from the top, killing all 17 men.
Records indicate that some of the men were in the Navy headed to their ships in San Diego, while others had just come from basic training in Georgia and headed home for a short leave before their combat duty. When I first found the site, I came across coins from French Morocco, which really confused me. A closer look at the men on board indicated that some had already served overseas fighting the Germans in North Africa and Italy. Clearly, one of these men had saved some of this foreign currency as a souvenir.
A local in the area has said that the crash was left until a salvager cleaned in up in 1947-48. Today, not much is left of the C-47 except a large burn area with scattered debris. The largest parts left are a few engine cylinders and engine parts.
The crew on board were: Captain Ben Gibson (pilot), Lt. George Winzler (copilot), Sgt. Jack Maier (engineer), Pvt Frank Byrne (radio operator). The passengers were: Infantry Pfc's George Jones, Dudley Hutton, George Francis, Bruce Carden, Haig Sansian, Infantry Private Leroy Thomas, Infantry Sergeants Williams Yates and Clyde Wikadel, Navy Yeoman James Woodley and Donald Brakebill, Navy Seaman Edgell Powell, Navy Chief E.O. Milliron, and Flight Officer A.C. Middleton.
According to the Associated press 14? service men were killed in the crash of a C-47 Army transport plane, on Christmas Day on Black Mesa Mountain, 30 miles east of Blythe, CA. The plane was based at the Maiden, Mo., Air Transport Command Field and cleared Tucson, Ariz., Christmas morning en route to Palm Springs, CA. There were 13 passengers aboard and a crew of 4.
#43-16151 Crew and passengers
Capt. Ben H. Gibson Pilot
Lt. George S. Winzler Jr. Co Pilot
Sgt. Jack H. Maier Engineer
Pvt. Frank T. Byrne Radio Op.
Passengers
Flt/Of. Anthony C. Middleton III
Sgt. Clyde W. Wikadal
Sgt. William V. Yates
Pfc. George R. Francis
Pfc. Dudley G. Hutton
Pfc. George A Jones
Pfc. Haig S. Sanoian
Pfc. Bruce J. Carden
Pfc. Leroy E. Thomas
Yeoman James L. Woodley
Yeoman Donald L. Brakebill
Seaman Edgell Powell
Navy Chief Ellsworth O. Milliron
∼COD: Auto Accident at Black Mesa Mountain 13 miles SE of Quartzsite, Arizona
AZ Certificate of Death
at this time Quartzsite was in Yuma County; when Yuma County split in 1983 it became part of La Paz County
burial in Atascadero, California
Sgt. William V. Yates
Home: California
Squadron:
Service# 39692125
Awards:
Pilot Capt. Ben H. Gibson
Target: Transport
Mission Date: 25-Dec-44
Serial Number: # 43-16151
Aircraft Model C-47B Army Transport
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: Quartzite, Arizona
Cause: Weather
This Dakota was on the final leg of it's flight to Los Angeles. The pilot departed Tucson, Arizona for Los Angeles, despite being warned that severe thunderstorms and low clouds could hinder his visibility. About 20 Miles southeast of Quartzsite, Arizona the low-hanging clouds shrouded the mountains and peaks in the area, including Black Mesa. Tragically, the C-47 slammed into the side of the mesa about 12 feet from the top, killing all 17 men.
Records indicate that some of the men were in the Navy headed to their ships in San Diego, while others had just come from basic training in Georgia and headed home for a short leave before their combat duty. When I first found the site, I came across coins from French Morocco, which really confused me. A closer look at the men on board indicated that some had already served overseas fighting the Germans in North Africa and Italy. Clearly, one of these men had saved some of this foreign currency as a souvenir.
A local in the area has said that the crash was left until a salvager cleaned in up in 1947-48. Today, not much is left of the C-47 except a large burn area with scattered debris. The largest parts left are a few engine cylinders and engine parts.
The crew on board were: Captain Ben Gibson (pilot), Lt. George Winzler (copilot), Sgt. Jack Maier (engineer), Pvt Frank Byrne (radio operator). The passengers were: Infantry Pfc's George Jones, Dudley Hutton, George Francis, Bruce Carden, Haig Sansian, Infantry Private Leroy Thomas, Infantry Sergeants Williams Yates and Clyde Wikadel, Navy Yeoman James Woodley and Donald Brakebill, Navy Seaman Edgell Powell, Navy Chief E.O. Milliron, and Flight Officer A.C. Middleton.
According to the Associated press 14? service men were killed in the crash of a C-47 Army transport plane, on Christmas Day on Black Mesa Mountain, 30 miles east of Blythe, CA. The plane was based at the Maiden, Mo., Air Transport Command Field and cleared Tucson, Ariz., Christmas morning en route to Palm Springs, CA. There were 13 passengers aboard and a crew of 4.
#43-16151 Crew and passengers
Capt. Ben H. Gibson Pilot
Lt. George S. Winzler Jr. Co Pilot
Sgt. Jack H. Maier Engineer
Pvt. Frank T. Byrne Radio Op.
Passengers
Flt/Of. Anthony C. Middleton III
Sgt. Clyde W. Wikadal
Sgt. William V. Yates
Pfc. George R. Francis
Pfc. Dudley G. Hutton
Pfc. George A Jones
Pfc. Haig S. Sanoian
Pfc. Bruce J. Carden
Pfc. Leroy E. Thomas
Yeoman James L. Woodley
Yeoman Donald L. Brakebill
Seaman Edgell Powell
Navy Chief Ellsworth O. Milliron
∼COD: Auto Accident at Black Mesa Mountain 13 miles SE of Quartzsite, Arizona
AZ Certificate of Death
at this time Quartzsite was in Yuma County; when Yuma County split in 1983 it became part of La Paz County
burial in Atascadero, California
US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Sgt. William V. Yates
Home: California
Squadron:
Service# 39692125
Awards:
Pilot Capt. Ben H. Gibson
Target: Transport
Mission Date: 25-Dec-44
Serial Number: # 43-16151
Aircraft Model C-47B Army Transport
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: Quartzite, Arizona
Cause: Weather
This Dakota was on the final leg of it's flight to Los Angeles. The pilot departed Tucson, Arizona for Los Angeles, despite being warned that severe thunderstorms and low clouds could hinder his visibility. About 20 Miles southeast of Quartzsite, Arizona the low-hanging clouds shrouded the mountains and peaks in the area, including Black Mesa. Tragically, the C-47 slammed into the side of the mesa about 12 feet from the top, killing all 17 men.
Records indicate that some of the men were in the Navy headed to their ships in San Diego, while others had just come from basic training in Georgia and headed home for a short leave before their combat duty. When I first found the site, I came across coins from French Morocco, which really confused me. A closer look at the men on board indicated that some had already served overseas fighting the Germans in North Africa and Italy. Clearly, one of these men had saved some of this foreign currency as a souvenir.
A local in the area has said that the crash was left until a salvager cleaned in up in 1947-48. Today, not much is left of the C-47 except a large burn area with scattered debris. The largest parts left are a few engine cylinders and engine parts.
The crew on board were: Captain Ben Gibson (pilot), Lt. George Winzler (copilot), Sgt. Jack Maier (engineer), Pvt Frank Byrne (radio operator). The passengers were: Infantry Pfc's George Jones, Dudley Hutton, George Francis, Bruce Carden, Haig Sansian, Infantry Private Leroy Thomas, Infantry Sergeants Williams Yates and Clyde Wikadel, Navy Yeoman James Woodley and Donald Brakebill, Navy Seaman Edgell Powell, Navy Chief E.O. Milliron, and Flight Officer A.C. Middleton.
According to the Associated press 14? service men were killed in the crash of a C-47 Army transport plane, on Christmas Day on Black Mesa Mountain, 30 miles east of Blythe, CA. The plane was based at the Maiden, Mo., Air Transport Command Field and cleared Tucson, Ariz., Christmas morning en route to Palm Springs, CA. There were 13 passengers aboard and a crew of 4.
#43-16151 Crew and passengers
Capt. Ben H. Gibson Pilot
Lt. George S. Winzler Jr. Co Pilot
Sgt. Jack H. Maier Engineer
Pvt. Frank T. Byrne Radio Op.
Passengers
Flt/Of. Anthony C. Middleton III
Sgt. Clyde W. Wikadal
Sgt. William V. Yates
Pfc. George R. Francis
Pfc. Dudley G. Hutton
Pfc. George A Jones
Pfc. Haig S. Sanoian
Pfc. Bruce J. Carden
Pfc. Leroy E. Thomas
Yeoman James L. Woodley
Yeoman Donald L. Brakebill
Seaman Edgell Powell
Navy Chief Ellsworth O. Milliron
∼COD: Auto Accident at Black Mesa Mountain 13 miles SE of Quartzsite, Arizona
AZ Certificate of Death
at this time Quartzsite was in Yuma County; when Yuma County split in 1983 it became part of La Paz County
burial in Atascadero, California
Sgt. William V. Yates
Home: California
Squadron:
Service# 39692125
Awards:
Pilot Capt. Ben H. Gibson
Target: Transport
Mission Date: 25-Dec-44
Serial Number: # 43-16151
Aircraft Model C-47B Army Transport
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location: Quartzite, Arizona
Cause: Weather
This Dakota was on the final leg of it's flight to Los Angeles. The pilot departed Tucson, Arizona for Los Angeles, despite being warned that severe thunderstorms and low clouds could hinder his visibility. About 20 Miles southeast of Quartzsite, Arizona the low-hanging clouds shrouded the mountains and peaks in the area, including Black Mesa. Tragically, the C-47 slammed into the side of the mesa about 12 feet from the top, killing all 17 men.
Records indicate that some of the men were in the Navy headed to their ships in San Diego, while others had just come from basic training in Georgia and headed home for a short leave before their combat duty. When I first found the site, I came across coins from French Morocco, which really confused me. A closer look at the men on board indicated that some had already served overseas fighting the Germans in North Africa and Italy. Clearly, one of these men had saved some of this foreign currency as a souvenir.
A local in the area has said that the crash was left until a salvager cleaned in up in 1947-48. Today, not much is left of the C-47 except a large burn area with scattered debris. The largest parts left are a few engine cylinders and engine parts.
The crew on board were: Captain Ben Gibson (pilot), Lt. George Winzler (copilot), Sgt. Jack Maier (engineer), Pvt Frank Byrne (radio operator). The passengers were: Infantry Pfc's George Jones, Dudley Hutton, George Francis, Bruce Carden, Haig Sansian, Infantry Private Leroy Thomas, Infantry Sergeants Williams Yates and Clyde Wikadel, Navy Yeoman James Woodley and Donald Brakebill, Navy Seaman Edgell Powell, Navy Chief E.O. Milliron, and Flight Officer A.C. Middleton.
According to the Associated press 14? service men were killed in the crash of a C-47 Army transport plane, on Christmas Day on Black Mesa Mountain, 30 miles east of Blythe, CA. The plane was based at the Maiden, Mo., Air Transport Command Field and cleared Tucson, Ariz., Christmas morning en route to Palm Springs, CA. There were 13 passengers aboard and a crew of 4.
#43-16151 Crew and passengers
Capt. Ben H. Gibson Pilot
Lt. George S. Winzler Jr. Co Pilot
Sgt. Jack H. Maier Engineer
Pvt. Frank T. Byrne Radio Op.
Passengers
Flt/Of. Anthony C. Middleton III
Sgt. Clyde W. Wikadal
Sgt. William V. Yates
Pfc. George R. Francis
Pfc. Dudley G. Hutton
Pfc. George A Jones
Pfc. Haig S. Sanoian
Pfc. Bruce J. Carden
Pfc. Leroy E. Thomas
Yeoman James L. Woodley
Yeoman Donald L. Brakebill
Seaman Edgell Powell
Navy Chief Ellsworth O. Milliron
∼COD: Auto Accident at Black Mesa Mountain 13 miles SE of Quartzsite, Arizona
AZ Certificate of Death
at this time Quartzsite was in Yuma County; when Yuma County split in 1983 it became part of La Paz County
burial in Atascadero, California
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