The creator of a website called www.arizonawrecks.com has contacted me regarding the crash of the United Boeing 247 near Chesterton. Chris Baird and I have exchanged emails/blog posts and both of us have concluded that, after extensive enquiries, that at this stage we have drawn blanks on shedding any further light on this crash. However Chris does have a few more photos than I do on his website so check it out (as per above link).
I will continue to hunt for information in the meantime but after so many years I doubt we will get very far unless we attempt to identify and contact the Scribner family or the families of anyone else who was aboard. I mention the Scribner family the most as there is the most information available publicly on them.
Update to my research attempts: I have struck out trying to get records on this accident.
ReplyDeleteFAA was very nice but had no info (via FOIA).
Never heard from Porter County, Indiana for records.
My last hope is NARA (US National Archives). I hope they can get something together.
Dept of Commerce acknowledged that their Aeronautics Branch investigated this accident (not NIST -- National Institute of Standards and Technology) but their records wouldve gone to NARA after 30 years. They had nothing.
FAA did an exhaustive search but their records also wouldve gone to NARA by now. They had nothing.
So I am pinning my last hopes on NARA...will let you know if anything turns up. :>
I do not know anyone who lives in that area, but it sure would be wonderful to get some sort of small monument to this tragic and historic accident.
--> Chris Baird
http://arizonawrecks.com/wrecksfromtonymireles/boeing247nc13304.html
Chris, I hope NARA can turn up something...I'll be looking forward to a response from them either way as it means we can move forward with further information or if negative, I may attempt to contact anyone remaining in that particular line of the Scribner family. Fingers and toes crossed for NARA though. I am so glad that you have the contacts I don't know about. Not being a US citizen makes it difficult to know who to contact over in the USA to start the ball rolling as you have.
ReplyDeleteUpdate, bad news. Just wanted to fill in the blanks...
ReplyDeleteUS National Archives (NARA) responded to me and said they have no records of this 247 crash...
They referred me to F.B.I. (which I already have done with negative results).
The records of this airliner bombing seem to have disappeared into a black hole, which is understandable -- coming on 80 years now. I have had similar results on civilian aircraft accidents half this old.
Just wanted to let you know where I was at (nothing gained).
My feelings: a monument should be placed for these lost souls and a tribute to the 247 as a pioneer of not only commercial aviation as we know it but also other honoraries that followed the 247 (like the B-17!).
Other than that, I wish only I could add more to the tale of United Flight 23 (Boeing 247 NC13304).
--> Chris B.
www.arizonawrecks.com
PS--a huge B-247 fan
Hi Chris...yes I feared this would happen just with the age of the crash...so long ago.
ReplyDeleteI have failed to make any contact with anyone in the town of Chesterton or nearby as people either don't want to talk or it seems they just don't know.
I was hoping I could get the support of a local aviation enthusiast or historian or town official but that seems to have drawn a blank.
Your efforts though certainly have been more worthy than mine as being based in the States at least you've known who and how to contact albeit a blank.
But yes a tribute is needed as this is likely the first-ever case in the history of the USA of a suspected sabotage/bombing of an airliner.
Maybe its something the state should look at honouring.