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Domestic News
November 19, 1952
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
In a Montana crash of an Air Force C-119 Flying Boxcar, pilot Col. William E. Shuttles ordered bailout but crew milled around instead, leading to 8 deaths out of 16 aboard. Shuttles, injured, chose to ride the plane down.
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Failure To Bail Out As Ordered Caused Deaths In Montana Crash of C-119
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)--Men of the Air Force Flying Boxcar which crashed and killed eight of 16 aboard, were "just milling around" after orders to bail out, the pilot said Tuesday.
Col. William E. Shuttles, 45, of Dallas described the scene in a hospital interview. He suffered a head injury.
The pilot said he ordered a bailout, unhooked his safety harness and went to the lower deck.
"Not one soul had made any effort to bail out," Shuttles said. "They had the doors open, but were just milling around."
Shuttles said he was convinced that "it was hopeless in the minutes left to bring order," and returned to the controls.
"I couldn't just jump and leave the others in," he said. "I decided to ride her down. But I don't believe anybody would have been hurt if they had bailed out."
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)--Men of the Air Force Flying Boxcar which crashed and killed eight of 16 aboard, were "just milling around" after orders to bail out, the pilot said Tuesday.
Col. William E. Shuttles, 45, of Dallas described the scene in a hospital interview. He suffered a head injury.
The pilot said he ordered a bailout, unhooked his safety harness and went to the lower deck.
"Not one soul had made any effort to bail out," Shuttles said. "They had the doors open, but were just milling around."
Shuttles said he was convinced that "it was hopeless in the minutes left to bring order," and returned to the controls.
"I couldn't just jump and leave the others in," he said. "I decided to ride her down. But I don't believe anybody would have been hurt if they had bailed out."
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Accident
Military
What keywords are associated?
C 119 Crash
Montana
Air Force
Bailout Failure
Plane Crash
What entities or persons were involved?
Col. William E. Shuttles
Where did it happen?
Montana
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Montana
Event Date
Tuesday
Key Persons
Col. William E. Shuttles
Outcome
eight of 16 aboard killed
Event Details
Air Force C-119 Flying Boxcar crashed after crew failed to bail out despite pilot's orders; pilot described crew milling around with doors open but no bailout attempts; pilot returned to controls and rode plane down, believing no one would have been hurt if they bailed out.