Incident Name: Dry Creek 2 Fire
Date: 8/18/1970
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: unknown, but likely under contract with the Forest Service
Position:
Summary:
Ray Elgin, pilot, age 52, of Cody WY
John Bastian, co-pilot, age 23, of Burns WY
On August 18, 1970 air tanker A-34, a B17T, was ordered from the West Yellowstone Airfield and Smokejumper Base to drop retardant on the Dry Creek 2 fire west of Crowheart, Wyoming. Chief Pilot Ray Elgin, age 52, and Co-Pilot John Bastian, age 23, immediately took off and headed for the designated drop zone. During one pass on the fire, with the pilots fighting squirrelly winds, the B-17 delivered its slurry but failed to gain altitude. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane then struck some trees with its left wing causing the aircraft to roll and impact the ground. Ray Elgin and John Bastian did not survive the crash.
Information courtesy of Cemetery Walker via wlfalwaysremember.org.
Date: 8/18/1970
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: unknown, but likely under contract with the Forest Service
Position:
Summary:
Ray Elgin, pilot, age 52, of Cody WY
John Bastian, co-pilot, age 23, of Burns WY
On August 18, 1970 air tanker A-34, a B17T, was ordered from the West Yellowstone Airfield and Smokejumper Base to drop retardant on the Dry Creek 2 fire west of Crowheart, Wyoming. Chief Pilot Ray Elgin, age 52, and Co-Pilot John Bastian, age 23, immediately took off and headed for the designated drop zone. During one pass on the fire, with the pilots fighting squirrelly winds, the B-17 delivered its slurry but failed to gain altitude. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane then struck some trees with its left wing causing the aircraft to roll and impact the ground. Ray Elgin and John Bastian did not survive the crash.
Information courtesy of Cemetery Walker via wlfalwaysremember.org.
Incident Name: Dry Creek 2 Fire
Date: 8/18/1970
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: unknown, but likely under contract with the Forest Service
Position:
Summary:
Ray Elgin, pilot, age 52, of Cody WY
John Bastian, co-pilot, age 23, of Burns WY
On August 18, 1970 air tanker A-34, a B17T, was ordered from the West Yellowstone Airfield and Smokejumper Base to drop retardant on the Dry Creek 2 fire west of Crowheart, Wyoming. Chief Pilot Ray Elgin, age 52, and Co-Pilot John Bastian, age 23, immediately took off and headed for the designated drop zone. During one pass on the fire, with the pilots fighting squirrelly winds, the B-17 delivered its slurry but failed to gain altitude. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane then struck some trees with its left wing causing the aircraft to roll and impact the ground. Ray Elgin and John Bastian did not survive the crash.
Information courtesy of Cemetery Walker via wlfalwaysremember.org.
Date: 8/18/1970
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: unknown, but likely under contract with the Forest Service
Position:
Summary:
Ray Elgin, pilot, age 52, of Cody WY
John Bastian, co-pilot, age 23, of Burns WY
On August 18, 1970 air tanker A-34, a B17T, was ordered from the West Yellowstone Airfield and Smokejumper Base to drop retardant on the Dry Creek 2 fire west of Crowheart, Wyoming. Chief Pilot Ray Elgin, age 52, and Co-Pilot John Bastian, age 23, immediately took off and headed for the designated drop zone. During one pass on the fire, with the pilots fighting squirrelly winds, the B-17 delivered its slurry but failed to gain altitude. According to eyewitness accounts, the plane then struck some trees with its left wing causing the aircraft to roll and impact the ground. Ray Elgin and John Bastian did not survive the crash.
Information courtesy of Cemetery Walker via wlfalwaysremember.org.
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