Saturday, June 9, 1956: 6 killed as jet hits house
Posted on October 3rd, 2005 – 12:58 AMBy Ben Welter
On Tuesday, June 5, 1956, an Air Force F89 Scorpion fighter jet carrying 104 live rockets crashed into a car on a road adjacent to what is now known as Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. A 38-year-old Minneapolis woman and her 5-year-old daughter were killed. Her husband and son escaped from the car before it burst into flames; their housekeeper was seriously injured. The family had been out for a “pleasure ride” to see the new stadium in Bloomington.Just four days later, an F9F4 jet crashed into a row of homes north of the airport. At the request of a Yesterday’s News reader who lived close to the crash site, here are excerpts from two A1 stories published in the Minneapolis Star on the day of the accident. For more on the crash, see my colleague Dick Parker’s Retro item, published 50 years later.
Jet Hits House, At Least 6 Dead
9 Injured;
5 Other
Homes Are
Set Afire
A navy jet plane crashed into a house and set fire to five others at the north edge of Wold-Chamberlain field at 9:30 a.m. today, killing at least six persons and injuring nine others.
The plane left a military formation to make an emergency landing and hit the street in front of 5804 and 5808 Forty-Sixth avenue S., near the main gate of the navy base.
The plane then bounced into the home of Donald and Jane Garles, 5820 Forty-sixth, and shattered with a terrific explosion and flash which scattered the plane and its fuel over the neighborhood.
Firefighters rushed to extinguish a fire in one of the houses hit by debris. (Minneapolis Star photo)
Some 20 or more children were at play in that block when the plane crashed. Some of them were littered with debris and flaming fuel.
Five of them, taken to Veterans hospital, were reported in “very critical” condition with burns. One other child was taken to the same hospital with less severe injuries.
Two were taken to General hospital and three to the navy infirmary at the airport.
The pilot of the plane, Major George Armstrong, 33, 5808 Pearson drive, Edina, was killed. The second body identified was that of Debora De Wolfe, 7, 5816 Forty-sixth avenue S.
The child’s body was found on a couch in her home. Alongside the couch was the landing gear of the plane.
The other dead were not identified immediately.
Glen Gould, chief of the veterans administration fire department, said six bodies had been recovered.
“We made a pretty close check of the burned homes and I don’t believe there are any more,” he said.
At a press conference at navy headquarters, Col. Frank F. Gill, commanding officer of the naval air station, explained that Armstrong and two other pilots had taken off on a tactical training mission.
The other two were Maj. O.J. Miller, Isanti, Minn., and Maj. Harold Slay, Somerset, Wis. The three are navy reservists.
Miller, according to Gill, said Armstrong reported he was having some trouble with the plane and was breaking formation to head back to the airport.
“He didn’t explain what the trouble was, but he didn’t seem to be alarmed,” Gill said. “Miller followed him toward the airport.
“Miller said Armstrong appeared to have made the airport and that he, Miller, then turned away from the airport before the crash.” …
Residents of the south Minneapolis neighborhood gathered to watch firefighters work the crash scene. (Minneapolis Star photo)
Children Playing When
Jet Hits ‘Like a Bomb’
South Minneapolis residents who had been working in their yards, supervising their children at play or going about normal household tasks were shaken at 9:32 a.m. today by an explosion that some described as a “huge bomb blast.”
It was the crash of a F9F navy jet fighter plane into a row of houses in the 5800 block on Forty-sixth avenue S. Here are the words of some of the first to reach the scene:
Elmer Gustafson, 5841 Forty-fifth avenue S., was in his back yard when he saw the plane come in low and crash with a “terrific explosion and flash.”
“There were lots of youngsters playing in yards just before the crash,” he said. “I took my own youngsters a safe distance, then went to the scene of the burning homes. I saw people carrying injured children.
“It was so confusing, I don’t know whether the children had been in the houses or in the yard. There was a terrible concussion that could have knocked them over.”
Gustafson said he tried to get into one house, but flames drove him back.
Frank Trybulec, Villa Park, Ill., and his wife had just arrived to visit the Albin Andersons at 5759 Forty-fourth avenue S.
“I heard a terrific explosion and I ran to the burning house where the plane had hit,” Trybulec said. They were carrying out children. One child had her clothing burned off.”
Mrs. Otto Mueller, 5854 Forty-sixth avenue S., who lives at far end of block, spend a frantic minute following the “terrible bang” searching for her children, John, 5½, and Joan , 8, who were playing down the block toward the crash scene.
The two youngsters came rushing into the hosue. John was scratched by a piece of flying debris, but otherwise unhurt.
“Don’t come out, Annabelle,” Mrs. Mueller telephoned a friend across town as thousands jammed streets, alleys and lawns within minutes after the disaster.
“There was a ‘poof’ and then a real smell of smoke and I saw fire in my living and bedroom.”
Mrs. Doris Kieffer, 30, sat in Veterans’ administration hospital after treatment for cuts and described the impact of the jet plane crash that wiped out six houses today.
“I had just gone into the bathroom to comb my hair,” she said.
“It is on the west side of the house and the plane hit on the east side.
“I heard the plane and you know jets whistle. But this time it was just a poof and I realized the smell of smoke.
“I saw fire in the living room and bedroom and there is a hall separating it from the bathroom. I started down the hall and realized I couldn’t make it.’
“I shut the door of the bathroom and broke the bathroom window to get out.
“I saw my two little girls – Jennie, 2½, and Cassie, 5. I got Jennie.
“My husband was painting the back fence and he picked up Cassie.
“We ran across the alley to my neighbor because I knew she was a nurse.
“I said, ‘help me, please.’
“Then I saw an ambulance and we took them to it. They were crying. I don’t remember much after that.”
Mrs. Kieffer had stitches taken in her right forearm and first aid for other less serious cuts and bruises on her legs.
The Kieffers moved into their homes four years ago. She said they had never worried about aircraft activity. “It is just one of those things you never think happens,” she said.
“After all, the landing strip is over the hill and not really by us.
“You don’t worry to the point where you ever think that it would hit you.”
Before the 1960s, numbers and arrows were sometimes added to photos to help explain what happened. Here’s the original caption from this Minneapolis Star photo: Jet plane struck the ground (1), bounced and struck again (2), then crashed into house (3).
48 Responses to "Saturday, June 9, 1956: 6 killed as jet hits house"
Those of us who live near the airport automatically accept that the planes will land and take off without incident. But, like the floods of Louisiana and the earthquakes in California, inevitably some mishap will occur and I just hope that it is not in my neighborhood.
I was 7 years old at the time of this plane crash and lived just a few blocks away. I can still remember exactly where I was standing when my mother told me that Jeffrey Kieffer, one of my first grade classmates was killed along with his two little sisters. I have thought about the Kieffers often over the years and how devastating it was for them to lose all three of their children in an instant.
I now live about few homes to the south of the crash site. Just coincidentally I was doing research on this last summer. All I could find at that time was scratched up micofilms with worthless photos. I remember a neighbor had an old Minneapolis Star newspaper with color aerial and ground level photos of the scene. Star tribune told me those photos were gone. Too bad, but these B&W photos are still nice to see.
It was my 9th birthday and we were getting ready for my party. My dad heard the plane and knew it was in trouble. We went to see what happened. I will never forget how bad I felt for those children.
I currently live a few houses south on 45th Ave. I has told by neighboors that this had happened in the 60’s, but have never heard anything since. It is interesting to see the photos and read the paper report on the accident. I am curious to hear more from the people and families that used to live on my block that were effected by this tragic event. Sorry to those that lost loved ones so many years ago. Its nice to see that history has been preserved.
Our family lived at 5833 45th. Ave. So.I was 5 1/2 years old and was sitting watching Axel on television when I heard a very loud noise. I ran outside to where my mother was hanging clothes on the line. I remember seeing our neighbor’s little boy laying on their couch very badly burned. We also found part of the control panel from the jet in our attic. Somehow it had come between the houses with little damage to our house.
My next door neighbors lost there daughter there when the children were sprayed with jet fuel. They lived in the 5th house from the left. Don came over this morning asking if I could get the pictures from this blog. Ironically they are having a family re-union this comming weekend. After thier daughter was killed they adopted another child. They now live here next door to me here in Eagan. I know this was hard on them all these years. I was wondering if the Star and Tribune could possibly sen them some pictures. Don is really in tough shape so it would be kind of nice if they could have something to show in thier reunion. They have been a real blessing to me and my wife since we moved in next door to them. They are some of the hardest working people I’ve known.
I now live on the block where the crash happened. About a year ago someone driving by stopped to ask me if I knew where the crash site was. I had no idea what they were talking about…until now. Wow, now I can’t figure out if ignorance is bliss or if knowledge is power!
I like this new “rich history” addition to the Star Tribune.
I lived in North Minneapolis and remember a plane crashing in the street over Northeast but it killed no one except the pilot. It was just a week or two prior to this incident.
Do you have a record of this?
Vincent and Doris Kieffer, mentioned in the stories, are my parents. They lost three children. They moved “far” from the airport to Crystal and were married for 57 years until my father’s death in September 2003. They had the “second three” children who are my sisters Lisa (born in 1958, Ann (born in 1960) and me, Paul, born in 1962. My Ann is a pilot for Midwest Airlines of all careers and flies into the Twin Cities on a regular basis. My Mom maintained a book of news clippings on the crash which she has to this day. It is nice the Star Tribune remembers the tragic day because it otherwise becomes mostly lost to history.
The pilot George Armstrong was my father. In 1956 my mother was 29 years old with four children - I was 9, my sister was 7, my two brothers were 5 and 6 months. We had just moved into a new four bedroom house in Brooklyn Center the fall of 1955. The neighborhood helped “sod” the backyard that summer. It was a terrible time for my family but I remember lots of kindness and support from the community. In addition to the marine corps reserve my father was the drum major for the Robbinsdale City Band - which celebrates its 100th anniversary this fall. The city band put on a benefit concert for us the summer of ‘56 and the money was put into a college fund for us kids. My mother grieved her entire life for my father and all the others who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
I was 8 years old when this disaster happened and I remember that morning clearly. My family lived on 1st Avenue in south Minneapolis. I was watching TV when the station broke in with a news bulletin saying that an airplane had crashed into some houses near the airport. There was a series of crashes in this area involving military aircraft in the 50’s and I remember the public outrage and demands to eliminate the fighter jets from our airport. The unfortunate fact is that when residential areas are built near airports, inevitably these disasters will occur sooner or later. Does the Star Tribune have in its archives the article about a Navy A4B Skyhawk which crashed at the airport in about May of 1963 and another fighter crash near Post Road in the summer of 1968?
We lived near Bloomington and Lake street when the accident occurred. I can remember our Father driving us by the accident site. The loss of life was hard to accept.
I grew up on 56th & 43rd and was nine months old when this happened.The story of the kids,told to me by my folks and the older kids has always been etched in my mind.Still living in the area,I drove by Sunday afternoon.Thank you Paul and Kathryn for your comments.
Little Deborah DeWolfe is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Northfield in her maternal grandparents’ plot. Her biological brother Douglas lives in Chicago as does her adopted brother, Joe. Her parents live in Burnsville.
My sister and brother-in-law (Rosemary and Don DeWolfe) lived at 5816 46th Ave S. They lost their six year old daughter, Deborah, and all their possessions in the tragedy. After fifty years it is still gut-wrenching to think about all this, let alone see the pictures. Pray that nothing like this ever happens again.†
I had just been playing with some of the children who were injured or killed in this plane crash. My parents lived at 5828, and our house was 2 to the left of the Garies house. My dad worked with Don Garies. I just remember the extreme sadness of everyone - the kids and adults were all like family on that block and I know how deeply my parents mourned for the parents whose kids died. My parents were one of the few who lived in their house until they retired. They now live in Wells, MN. My heart goes out to the Greening, Kieffer, and DeWolfe families, as well as to Joel Garies whose entire family died, and the pilot’s family. When I drive by my old house, even now, and see the 4 double bungalows that replaced those destroyed homes, it makes my heart ache to remember how June 9 changed our close-knit block forever!
I had just graduated from Albert Lea High School and was staying with my brother, taking care of his two girls,Colleen and Barbara Nelson. It was sheer panic when the plan crashed. The girls had been playing outside and all I could think of was finding the girls and getting them to safety. The emergency teams used my brothers house as a gathering location. Firemen and emergency people were everywhere. My brother and sister-in-law had taken a couple of days away to relax. Unfortunately, the following days were not relaxing and the tension was high. People wanted the reserve base moved. I guess, however, the base was there before the homes were built. It was a very sad time for all who lived on that block. I think of that day often.
i can remember that day as if it were yesterday. i was with some of my friends and my dad who was helping a neighbor in the alley of 56th street & 43rd ave. when the crash happened my father climbed the telephone pole and said “oh my god,” climbed down and told us kids to stay where we were and ran at full speed up the alley. well you can imagine where we all headed. when i got there it looked like a war had taken place. i will never forget that day. thanks to steve peasley for sending me this. i was also present when in the 5th grade a non-military plane crashed into my classroom at morris park. i still love that neighborhood!
Major Armstrong was a member of VMF 213(Marine Fighting Squadron 213). I was the Operations Clerk for the squadron. My job was to maintain the flight log books for all of the pilots and a lot of other clerical duties. This was our regular drill week end.This was only the second drill weekend I had ever missed in three years(the oher time I was being married)this weekend I was graduating from the U of Minn and very happy. What a day. Major Armstrong was an officer and a gentleman in every sense of the word, a Marines Marine. Our squadron was loaded with good solid men of all ranks! Real Marines, many of whom had served in both WWII and Korea. This crash was the beguining of the end for Marine Reserve Avation and Naval Reserve Avation too, by 1960 the Air National Guard took over our base. In the interim our squadron lost its F9f’s and transitioned to helicopters.
These early whirly birds were much more unstable and accident prone than the proven jets we had been, but the public did not know that. Sen Humphry helped feed and then “sooth” the near hysteria in the neighborhood in order to get rid of us. It was a great opportunity to make points.This terrible event made me sad and angry at the same time. Other contributors have mentioned the other accidents that happened at about the same time and there was never the outcry that this one caused(double standard and forgetfullness). The inference was that only military(Marine jets) were dangerous. The day may come when terrorist or accident will bring down a big jet liner on our city and then there will be hell to pay. I sure some folks will ask for the entire abolotion of the airport if such a horror occurs.
Karl WEsterman
Sgt. USMCR 1953-59
I too, will never forget that morning. We lived at 5856 45th ave. I was in the bedroom feeding our month old son. The window was opened at the top and when the explosion happened it sucked the window shade right out. The firetruck smashed right through the gate to the airport without opening it. My husband and daughter had gone to the store, otherwise she might have been playing with her playmates in those backyards. It took along time for the children in the neighborhood to feel safe playing outside. I remember them running into the house when a airplane came over, which was quite constant. When we visit our parents grave at Ft. Snelling many of the graves of the pilots and families are right there also. We remember and have a sadness in our hearts for them
I was in the 1st grade at Morris Park Elementary school when this happened. We lived at 5720 41st Ave. S., no more than a mile away from the crash site. It was on a hot, sunny, Saturday morning. People (gawkers) were coming from all over to see what happended and the street which is now the East 62 Crosstown was clogged with vehicles. My mother would not let me or my younger brother go over there, but we heard what happened on the radio. My father was in the Navy (Active Duty) stationed at the Naval Air Station which was a half block from our house. He had to go over there to help fight the fire and spent a lot of time there in the next few days keeping watch over the area. Many years later he told me some things about it which I had not known. Although the newspaper accounts at the time said the pilot tried to return to the base and land because of engine trouble, I remember my father saying that the pilot was suffering a heart attack soon after take off and that is why he returned, narrowly missing the water tower at the VA Hospital before coming down in the street. My father also said that one reason why the fire was hard to put out was that one of the wheels, which was made of magnesium, was thrown into one of the houses, and when magnesium burns, it is near impossible to extinguish. The following Monday we returned to school (I believe the school year ended that week) and of course the kids in my class all talked about what they had seen or heard for show and tell. Some of the young victims were either in my class or other classes of 1st and 2nd graders. Some kids said they had come across the helmet of the pilot, as well as some body parts (apparently they were among the first gawkers on the scene). Does anyone else know anything about whether Major Armstrong (the pilot) was suffering a heart attack?
I don’t believe there is any history of heart problems in the Armstrong family. My father’s older brother is still alive - 86 years old and continues to be the drummer in his band! My grandparents lived until old age with no heart problems. My two brothers are now 50-plus with no heart problems - my father was 33 years old at the time of the crash. The “story” I remember - the plane was having hydraulic problems - the pilot had to “crank by hand” to stabilize flaps for landing - therefore making it difficult to commuicate by radio. I hope to see my Uncle Dick this weekend and will ask what he remembers or knows. It was difficult to discuss the crash growing up - even after 50 years it’s still a difficult subject - brings up too many tragic memories.
My brother,Vernon Iverson sent me the news clipping. We lived 5844 44th Ave So. I believe, anyway it was the house on the end of the row facing the airport.
I was in the 9th Air Force during WWII so airplanes did not make me nervous, except when some would come low at night.
If you have any more photos taken of this area, we would appreciate having them sent, by internet would be fine.
If you find a photo or photos on my web site that you would like to use, you have my permission to use them. Thank you, Orv Iverson
We remember our next-door neighbors’ first names, Bud & Doris, but can’t seem to remember their last names. We would like to connect with them after all these years. Any help would be appreciated.
Orville and Mary Iverson, 730 Patrol Rd., Woodside,CA 94062-4225
Phone: 650-851-0363 FAX: 650-851-4832
One other item I remembered, at 83 my mind is a bit slow. I wrote a letter to the editor regarding the proximity of the runaway to our houses. I believe it was a request to consider relocation of the landing strip. I believe I had written the letter to the Star-Tribune in 1953 or 54. Sincerely yours. Orv & Mary Iverson
I remember the incident well. I was 10 at the time living in north Minneapolis. My wife Bobbi McMillen NaSal lived on 68th and 17th. She was 7 at the time but remembers that day very clearly. I believe the powers that be wanted to stop military jet aircraft from landing at the airport.
Unfortunately I did not see this article until yesterday, otherwise I would have responded sooner. I lived at 5832 46th, just a couple of houses down from the crash. I was only 15 months old at the time, however. While growing up, I heard recollections from my dad, mom, and older sister about that day. I still have a complete set of original newspaper clippings that I look at once in a while to help fill in the details. A favorite story my mom likes to tell is of her sister, Babara, who was shopping at a grocery store up north when she heared on the radio that the plane crashed into 5832 46th (our address). Of course my aunt panicked until she called my grand parents who confirmed we were all alright. My dad was in the back yard at the time of the crash and used to tell about how he heard the engine go out and saw the plane heading straight toward him. He then ran into the house and grabbed my sister, my mom, and me, rushing us into the open field across the street. My sister was getting a haircut or a bath (I can’t remember), otherwise she probably would have been playing with the Keifer kids. My mom was very close to many people on that block. They all used to socialize often as they were all young and starting families. She still lives in South Minneapolis and remains in contact with Doris Keifer, Helen Greening, and others from that neighborhood. The crash was such a live changing event for all who were around at the time.
I am Scott’s sister and also lived at 5832 46th. It was a bath that delayed me from being outside playing. My mom believes I would most likely have been on the swingset behind Nelson’s house next door. It was crushed by the roof from Garies’ house.
Although I was only 3 at the time, I do remember quite a bit. I remember my dad running back to try to help people once he had deposited us down in the ditch across the street. He rolled one of the children on the ground. I remember that it seemed to me like everything was on fire.
Afterwards the block was cordoned off and guarded by the Navy. There was a small guard house in the middle of the street at the end of the block. My grandfather would often come to take my brother and me for the day and the exchange took place at that guard house.
My mother and the other women who still had homes on the block had an enormous amount of work to do in the aftermath. They washed all of the clothing that could be salvaged and went through the basement of the Garies’ home to see what they could find to give to Joel, the surviving member of the family. Then there were all of the funerals to attend for the 11 people who ultimately died and the many visits to the hospital for those who were injured but survived.
The woman who had lived in the house between Nelson’s and Garies’ lived with us for awhile after the crash until she could find another home. Her house was one of the homes torn down and replaced by bungelows.
As my brother mentioned, several of the people who lived on that block are still close and in contact with each other. It was during a recent lunch with three of them that my mother found out about this website.
Does anyone remember another crash over Northeast Minneapolis about the same time? I was a little kid (born in ‘51), and was lying in my little wagon watching a formation of jets flying northbound a little south of me when two of them seemed to bump into each other. I saw one of the burst into flames and head nearly vertically into the ground to the west in a residential area not far from our house near 33rd st and Ulysses. I heard that the pilot stayed in the aircraft to try to steer it away from the houses. I also heard that the pilot of other jet involved in the collision was able to ditch his aircraft outside of town after ejecting.
Any others have any memory of this?
My parents moved into 5813-45th avenue shortly after the crash. I wasn’t born until November of 63 but still remember the neighborhood and the family’s who lived on that block very well. I can remember my parents telling me about that horrible day and showing me photos of the crash. I also remember my mother telling me of another plane just missing the tree tops while coming in for a landing. I never knew the names of the people who died that day but my heart goes out to those family’s. I still have 8mm films of the neighborhood which I watch every now and then dating back to the flood of 1961 and of the tank driving on the streets before crosstown was built. It was a very close-nit neighborhood and will always remember the great times we had growing up there.
I have always wanted some confirmation that this happened. My family has told stories about this event for all these years.
We lived on the corner of 58th & 46th.
I was supposed to have been born just days prior to the crash. My Mother was outside watering some newly planted trees as the plane came in. She said it “sounded funny” and turned to watch it as it came to earth. She witnessed the events as they unfolded, but went into some sort of shock and eventually was taken to a local hospital for observation. She came out of the shock, but evidently I did not right away. (I was not born until August!) I have been “The Crash Baby” ever since.
I also remember the plane that hit Morris Park School. That was my school. My Dad was in the Navy, in Security. He worked both crashes.
re john jackson’s observation–
i just finished watching footage of the crash on 33rd and ulysses. my dad had an 8mm movie camera, and he was out the door in a flash, with my mom and me in tow. i was 8 at the time. i remember seeing half a body hanging in a tree from a parachute. i remember seeing at least one limb recovered, and brought to the parachute. i recall the smell of burning jet fuel, the smell of burning wood, and the sound of the crowd, watching the proceedings. some people were laughing, but most were quiet, silent in the presence of the aftermath. the military ambulances were there, as were the brass and the medics. the coroner’s ambulance was there, also.
i had begun to think that i’d perhaps manufactured this–but finding the old film, and seeing corroboration from mr. jackson assure me that i’m not quite senile, yet. it was the kind of thing that leaves a mark on a kid–at least in the memory department!
I would like to get in touch with the Paul Kieffer who posted a comment on this thread. Thank you!
My father was a Richfield fireman and was on duty when the crash occured. I was the first air crash that he had ever seen close up. Many years later, he told me that most of the Richfield firemen who wer there that day were in tears that night. Many of them had children the same ages as those who were killed or burned that day. He took my brother and I to the crash site on Sunday morning. I will never forget it. I was seven years old and it was the first time that it occurred to me that I could die. That block was just like mine in Richfield.
The graves of Maj. Armstrong and the Garies familiy and the Kieffer children and the Greening daughter are all near each other at Ft. Snelling. A very sad place but I visit it occasionally just so I don’t forget.
This is a response to John Jackson’s question about another crash in NE Mpls c. 1956. I was on active duty at the Naval Air Station from 1955-58; disbursing clerk 3/c. For part of that time I worked for the commanding officer, Capt. F.F. Gill.
The crash on the hill was horrible, although I did not work the site. I can’t remember where I was when that happened. I will never forget, however, the horror it entailed.
The crash in NE Mpls is somewhat clearer in my mind. I believe it happened on Memorial Day. Captain Gill had been ordered not to conduct a flyover that day, but he ignored the order. When we received word of the crash, I along with a number of other sailors were sent to NE Mpls to help with crowd control and cleanup. We worked through the night.
What was most disheartening to me was the death of Commander Olson, whose head, I was told, was found hanging in a tree. Cdr. Olson was one of the finest reserve officers and treated all hands with respect.
Captain Gill had been given command of the NAS Mpls after problems at the Philippine base where he was previously stationed. The story was that a PT boat had crashed into a buoy in the bay and he was held responsible.
Personally, I liked Captain Gill very much but the rumors were that he had a drinking problem. If my memory serves, he was relieved of command shortly after the Memorial Day crash and we later were told that he had been transferred to San Francisco and had been killed in a car accident.
There were other crashes during those years also. It was a difficult time. I don’t know that anyone could come up with a rational explanation for these crashes, other than either pilot error or equipment failure.
I was 10 and we lived near Lake Nokomis. I remember my dad was outside in the garden and he came running in the kitchen saying “turn on the radio something just exploded not far from here!” .. I was eating breakfast and it was a beautiful Saturday morning. Then the sirens. All morning the sirens! It was horrible.
In 1968 when I was married and my husband got out of the service we rented a home on 58th and 45th. It was right across the alley from where the Garies home once sat. The neighbor on the south side of us lived there when the crash happened. He said that the little boy that lived in our home had died from his burns several weeks after the crash. His name was Steven Clark. His name has not been mentioned yet. Does anyone remember him?
I am the person who wrote to the Star Tribune and asked them to publish this peice of Minneapolis history. It still haunts me after all these years and I still shudder when I hear sirens. Does anyone know of a website where further information can be found?
i remember the plane crash in Northeast mpls. in 1956 my brother went up there i remember he told me about the pilot hanging from a tree my brother also brought back a peice of the plane a small peice of metal. it was the color of pale green.
It was a sad day when this happened and my condolence goes out to all of the families, friends and neighbors that it effected for the rest of their lives. I was at 5529-34th and heard the crash. Not to make light of this but I have a question if anyone has any information on a Navy plane crash that occured in 1941 or 1942 on 34th ave and 55 th st. next to then Allards grocery store. The pilot put the plane down into empty lots. Part of the plane bounced across the alley into Bud and Jean Hornbecks garage and destroyed there garage and car.
I’m the granddaughter of Maj. George Armstrong. Kathryn (the oldest daughter) is my mother. I grew up hearing about the tragedy and how it affected my mother, her siblings, and especially my grandmother. I believe she was haunted by the pain and suffering of the families involved in this tragedy. But out of such pain, comes an unbelieveble embrace of the human spirit. My grandmother was widowed at 29 with 4 children under the age of 9. Strangers came to her aid with donations such as food, clothes and most memorable Toys for Tots. The kindness and forgiveness given to my grandmother changed her life and made her into a women of charity. Until her death in 2001, every year she gave to Toy for Tots, 10-fold. We as grand children remember our grandmother, and parents filling our cars up with toys, and as a family, driving together to “give back” to those who gave so much to them.
I read the pain in the comments above, from all sides, this touched so many people. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you.
I too would like any copies of news clipping, photos, 8mm film. So that our next generation will remember my grandfather and the people lost in this tragedy and never be forgotten.
It looks like we all could use a website. acapitola@yahoo.com
I wrote a book in 2001, noting all of the Minnesota Military airplane crashes from 1945 to 1960. The June 9, 1956 crash, along with the Memorial Day crash of 1957, receive very detailed chapters. I obtained all of the official records I could locate in writing the book.
I was a witness to the Memorial Day crash. I watched as the formation of F9F planes in echelon formation flew west and two of them collided. I have spoken at length with the surviving pilot. That crash was the impetus for my writing the book. Witnessing that crash had a profound effect on me.
In regard to Captain Gill, he was a popular commander with most of his command, but he seems to have had issues. I would not be surprised if he had problems with alcohol.
For those who still monitor the postings here I have some solid information:
1. Cmdr. Olson, the pilot who died in the May 30, 1957 crash of two F9F-5s was not beheaded or dismembered. He was not hanging from a tree. What happened is that Cmdr. Olson ejected late from his airplane and there was insufficient time for his parachute to open. He landed on the street, near the curb, in front of 1943 Pierce St. His parachute did catch in the branches overhead. The parachute was taken down to cover his body. Lt. Forsmark (the survivor) watched as Cmdr. Olson disconnected his oxygen, radio, etc., and jettisoned his canopy. Forsmark, on the other hand ejected THROUGH his canopy without disconnecting anyting and survived (although nearly hit by a car on 19th Avenue NE).
2. Stephen Clark did perish in the days following the June 9, 1956, crash and is interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
3. The site of the May 30, 1957 crash is not 33rd and Ulysses but was in an area bounded by Filmore St., Pierce St., 19th Avenue NE and 22nd Avenue NE.
In regard to the Morris Park accident, I have no information whatsoever regarding that crash. Could someone please inform as to the date, time, aircraft involved, etc.?
Thank you. jim@mindanaoprinting.com
I lived just across the alley from the DeWolfe home. The crash occurred just before my 5th birthday. I wanted to go play with my friends who were on a blanket between the DeWolfe house and the house on the north side, but my mother (Ethel Watkins) said I had to put on my shoes and socks. That’s what I was doing when I heard the explosion. My mother was on the phone and was watching out the kitchen window when the jet crashed. She ran into the living room and grabbed me by the hand and pulled me out the front door. As we crossed the street I turned around and saw a wall of flames behind our house. She brought me to the neighbor’s house across the street and turned to go find my brother, Darrell, who had been in the alley. He came running from the alley, unhurt.
I remember that Debbie DeWolfe was not feeling well that morning, and that was why she was lying on the couch.
Whenever I catch a whiff of burned wood, my memory turns to that day, the smell of the remains of those homes, and the memories of the friends with whom I used to play.
I have clippings from the paper, including some photos, but I think I remember reading comments my mother made to a reporter, and that portion is missing. Does anyone have clippings that include a comment by Ethel Watkins? She passed away in Sept. of 2006. My father, Harold Watkins, is 89, lives in Willmar, and is doing well.
I have really enjoyed hearing about some of the former residents of that special neighborhood!
Penny Anderson
Penny,
I don’t know if you still go to this page. If you do, email me. I will tell you how you can get copies of all the news stories from 6/9/1956 and for the rest of that month too.
pattys45@msn.com
Patricia
Thanks everyone for the comments and the memories of those plane accidents. Even now, my heart goes out to those families who lost loved ones because of them.
I too grew up in South Minneapolis, although to the West of the airport and was 5 at the time of the accidents. I recall seeing the site of the plane accident at Morris that day, but could not remember the name of the school.
Reading this blog has brought back many memories of growing up near the airport. It has confirmed some and filled in the gaps in others. Anyone else remember when NW had to warm up their engines at 5 in the morning in the winter? Or, the swamps catching on fire in the summer? Or, swimming in “Mothers Lake”? It was just a part of life growing up. No one ever expected though the tragedy that living close to the airport would bring for some. Like someone here said, it seems like there were a lot of plane accidents in the ’50s in Minneapolis. That memory was confirmed here on this blog.
Again, my condolences to those families who lost loved ones in these crashes.
“I recall seeing the site of the plane accident at Morris that day, but could not remember the name of the school”. Dwight,Are you thinking of the Morris Park school plain crash?The school is on 56th and 38th ave.? I beleave it was in June of 60.
I remember both of these crashes well. I also attended the sites. As a Navy Officer and pilot, I file these things deep in my brain, and although they happened over 50 years ago, it is still in my mind. Sad to lose anyone in an air accident, and I am sure both pilots did their very best to avoid hitting anyone on the ground, no doubt increasing their chances of not surviving. The NE accident happened due to two wing tips touching. Over the years, I have lost both Marine and Navy pilot friends due to accidents, and they alway remain with me in thought. RIP.
I, too, vividly remember June ‘56 crash. I was 11 years old at the time and lived with my family in the Home neighborhood near the Riverview Theater. My aunt, uncle and three cousins lived in the 4100 block of E. 55th St. I happened to be staying overnight, camping in the backyard with one of my cousins. We had just had breakfast that Saturday morning when there was a large muted explosion and then the sound of many sirens. Our first inkling of a disaster was when it was initially reported over WCCO radio. That was over 50 years ago, but still remembered as though it was yesterday.
