The Independence lake C-47 crash site, and the placing of the stone.
Photos courtesy of Ron Selin

By: Don R. Jordan
Copyright 2010




Point of impactclip2clip1


Cables, which were part of the cargo on this flight, along  with the control column and cockpit wiring are still hanging off the rocks at the point of impact.  The second photo is of the memorial stone just after it was placed in the cave by the family in 1951.  The third photo is of  Richard's family. From left to right are Richie (daughter) Jean (wife) Cindy (daugher) and Ellen (daughter).

Jean LuseFamily membersRonLuse family

Jean Luse with the memorial stone in 1985.  In the group photo from top left are Ron (son-in-law), Randy (son-in-law,Cindy's husband) Richie (daughter) Susan ( Jean daughter) Ronnie (son-in-law, Richie's husband) Jean (wife), Cindy (daughter), bottom left; Mel (brother), Ellen (daughter), Valerie, Brooke, and Scott (grandchildern).  Ron Selin (son-in-law) looking at the radio parts from the crash site. Next is Richard Luse and his wife Jean holding their first daughter Ellen (Ron's future wife).

Mel LuseL:use street
 Mel, Richard's brother, looking over parts of the plane.  The McClellen Air Force Base has named streets to memorialize fallen crews.  Here is the corner of Luce and Larson.  Larson was the radio operator on the flight.  A street named for Sgt. Rafferty, the pilot, is on the other end of the block.  Street photo courtesy of Jim Rowan.

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