1964 — Oct 27, USN plane hits pole in low-level flyover, hits buildings, El Centro NAF, CA–12

–12 AP. “12th Victim of Navy Plane Crash Dies.” Independent-Journal, San Rafael, CA. 11-19-1964, 9.
–12 Oakland Tribune, CA. “Ground Toll Will Rank With Worst,” Feb 8, 1973, p. 1.
–3 crew
–9 Navy personnel and dependents on the ground

Narrative Information

Newspapers

Oct 28, NYT: “El Centro, Calif., Oct 27. A twin‐jet bomber crashed near a crowd watching a Navy Day demonstration at the Naval Aerospace Recovery Facility near here today, killing at least nine persons and injuring 26.

“Three of the dead were the crew of the plane, an A‐3D Skywarrior. The craft hit a telephone pole while attempting a low‐level sweep past about 100 spectators. The other persons killed, according to an official announcement, were in a building housing the post store and other facilities. Parts of the plane crashed into the building. This structure and one enclosing a swimming pool were destroyed by a fire that raged several hours. Three other buildings were damaged by pieces of the plane.

“All the persons killed in the buildings were service personnel….

“The accident happened just after the execution of the 25,000th parachute jump at the base, a parachute experiment and test facility manned jointly by the Navy and the Air Force’s 6511th Parachute Test Group: The jumper, Navy Parachute Rigger Bedford Sunderland, landed without injury.

“Moments later, the plane, roaring low past the crowd, hit the telephone pole and glanced off the roof of an administration building, hurling chunks of wreckage into the adjacent post chapel, the Chief Petty Officers’ Club and an indoor swimming pool. The main part of the plane crashed into a building housing the Post Exchange, a snack bar, a theater, an enlisted men’s club and a barbershop.

“The hurtling plane’s course of destruction covered a swath about 100 yards wide and more than a quarter of a mile long.

“Some of the injured were taken to the Base Dispensary, Others *ere taken to the Community Hospital in El Centro, eight miles west. Fire‐fighting units were rushed in from El Centro and the nearby communities of Brawley and Calexico.

“Flames and oily smoke from the burning plane and buildings rose thousands of feet in the air.

“The El Centro Community Hospital reported that the victims taken there included six women, three men and two children. Six of them were reported in critical condition, mainly from burns.

“El Centro, an agricultural center, is just north of the Mexican border and 100 miles east of San Diego.” (New York Times. “9 Die at Coast Base as Jet Hits Building.” 10-28-1964, p. 1.)

Oct 29, Desert Sun: “El Centro (UPI) — Navy Officers today sought the cause of Tuesday’s crash of a jet bomber into three buildings at the Navy air facility here, killing nine persons and injuring at least 22 others. A Navy court of inquiry convened Wednesday to begin hearing testimony about the accident. Simultaneously, investigators sifted through the rubble-scarred scene, which was ringed by Navy guards. The investigating team hoped to learn whether a mechanical failure had caused the Douglas A3D Skywarrior to come in lower than its pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Paul Duris, planned.

“Duris died in the flaming wreckage. Three of the dead were aboard the plane, which clipped a telephone pole and then slammed into the buildings while sweeping over the base on a low-level flight. The flight was to commemorate the 25,000th parachute drop at the base and was held during a Navy Day celebration.

“Some witnesses said at least one explosion resulted as the jet approached the base shortly after it dropped the historic parachutist, Bedford Sutherland.

“One of those who perished in the plane was co-pilot Cmdr. Arthur Perkett, who flew the plane on the first successful parachute drop at this base 17 years ago. Perkett commanded the air recovery facility here. The third man killed aboard the plane was Aviation Machinist Mate Glenn Pender, 28, Parkton, N.C. The remainder of the dead and all of the injured were on the ground when the plane crashed.” (Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA. “Navy Seeking Cause of El Centro Crash.” 10-29-1964, p. 3.)

Nov 6, UPI: “El Centro (UPI) – a 10th persons has died as the result of last week’s jet bomber crash and fire during a Navy Day observance at the naval air facility her, officers reported. Mrs. Shirley Thompson, 27, wife of serviceman Joe Thompson and mother of six, died Thursday at the naval hospital in San Diego, Calif. Nine other persons were killed when the twin-engine Navy bomber crashed in flames into the Navy post exchange complex Oct. 27. More than 20 others were injured. Cause of the crash is under investigation.” (UPI. “Another Victim of Plane Crash.” Appeal Democrat, Marysville-Yuba City, CA, 11-6-1964, p. 1.)

Nov 19, AP: “El Centro (AP) – Mrs. Bernice Snyder, 58, has died of burns suffered when a Navy attack bomber crashed Oct. 27 at the El Centro Naval Air Facility, the Navy reported yesterday. She was the 12th fatality. The jet went down during a parachuting exhibition at the facility. Mrs. Snyder, of Ocotillo, was in the Navy exchange bar when the plane hit the building.” (AP. “12th Victim of Navy Plane Crash Dies.” Independent-Journal, San Rafael, CA. 11-19-1964, p. 9.)

Feb 8, 1973, Oakland Tribune: “On Oct. 27, 1964, nine Navy dependents and the three-man crew of an attack bomber perished when the plane crashed in the base commissary at El Centro Naval Air Station.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “Ground Toll Will Rank With Worst,” Feb 8, 1973, 1.)

Source

AP (Associated Press). “12th Victim of Navy Plane Crash Dies.” Independent-Journal, San Rafael, CA. 11-19-1964, p. 9. Accessed 7-10-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-rafael-independent-journal-nov-19-1964-p-9/

Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA. “Navy Seeking Cause of El Centro Crash.” 10-29-1964, p. 3. Accessed 7-10-2022 at: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19641029.2.26&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–1

New York Times. “9 Die at Coast Base as Jet Hits Building.” 10-28-1964, p. 1. Accessed 7-10-2022 at: https://www.nytimes.com/1964/10/28/archives/9-die-at-coast-base-as-jet-hits-building.html

Oakland Tribune, CA. “Ground Toll Will Rank With Worst,” 2-8-1973, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=30600172

UPI (United Press International). “Another Victim of Plane Crash.” Appeal Democrat, Marysville-Yuba City, CA, 11-6-1964, p. 1. Accessed 7-10-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/marysville-appeal-democrat-nov-06-1964-p-13/