"Scud running" in the middle of the night would cause the crash of this overloaded C-47B.  Three more young men would die needlessly in this May 12, 1945 accident.  This pilot, 1st. Lt. Glen K. Dorsey, deviated from his assigned altitude of 1,500 feet, and rammed a small hill east of Vallejo, California. The point of impact is only 800 above sea level (M.S.L.).  In addition to Lt.  Dorsey, Lt. Francis  E.  Reagan (copilot), and Private Harry S. Cooper (Flight Clerk) were also killed.

     Scud running is the dangerous practice of trying to remain clear of the clouds  by making rapid changes in altitude and heading.  Most pilots have done this at one time or another in their flying careers.  Steering around clouds, or changing  altitude to stay out of the clouds, is in itself not dangerous. For the  pilots who are not trained to fly on instruments, it's a requirement!  But to be scud running at low altitude  in unfamiliar terrain, is nothing short of suicidal.

 This aircraft was manufactured on August 10, 1944, and had more than 1660:40 hours on the airframe when it landed that night at McClellan Field in northern California.  It arrived at 22:26  with a Lt. Boseman at the controls.  The flight was designated  MAT 85-11.  At McClellan, the crew  was changed.   Lt. Dorsey was to take the aircraft to its final destination at Hamilton Field.

     Because of  bad weather  around Hamilton Field,  Lt.  Dorsey decided to terminate the flight at McClellan, and begin the return trip to Hill Field near Ogden, Utah.   He was given  the new call sign of MAT 85-12 for the return trip.

     However, before he could depart for Hill Field, the weather improved enough to allow the flight to continue to Hamilton Field. His clearance required him to  remain at 1,500 feet for the entire route.  Lt. Dorsey revised his flight plan, and departed for Hamilton at 23:42. The estimated time enroute (E.T.E.), was thirty minutes.  The aircraft made a normal takeoff, and a few minutes later, Lt. Dorsey signed off the tower frequency at McClellan.  There was no further radio contact with the flight.

    The full story of this accident is featured in the new book "Aircraft Wrecks in The Mountains and Deserts of California", (3rd edition), by G. Pat Macha and Don Jordan.  Published by Info Net Publishing, and  is now available.  This new book is a database of California aircraft accidents, and a collection of short stories.

    Pat and Don visited many of the crash sites listed in this book, and brought back some truly amazing photographs.  Whether you're a aviation archaeologist, or a casual reader of aviation history, you'll find this book one of the most interesting, and informative of all aviation archaeology books available.