Photo By Tech. Sgt. Nicole Leidholm | Col. Matthew Leard, 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, Jeannette Tross, niece of...... read more read more
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TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The 60th Air Mobility Wing held a rededication ceremony at the Mitchell Memorial Library June 28.
The rededication celebrated the 60th anniversary of when the library was named after Lt. Col. Kirk Mitchell June 27, 1957.
“It’s important to remember our history,” said Lanora Cox, 60th Force Support Squadron Mitchell Memorial Library librarian. “When they did the dedication ceremony in 1957, it really pulled the community together after such a huge loss.”
Mitchell was the 55th Air Transport Squadron commander and aircraft commander of the C-97 Stratofreighter on a mission from Wake Island to Yokota Air Base, Japan, when it crashed off the coast of Japan, March 22, 1957. The 10 person crew, along with 57 passengers, all died in the crash.
When the crew was 160 miles out, they made their last position report. The last that was ever heard from the crew was their alpha-one call, meaning all systems were good and they had enough fuel, said Col. Matthew Leard, 60th AMW vice commander.
“When they went overdue, it kicked off a nine-day search,” said Leard. “70 aircraft and 10 ships covered a 30,000 square mile area. They never found the crew.”
Three months after the accident, Travis AFB dedicated the library in memory of Mitchell and his crew.
That day, 2,000 Airmen marched in a parade, said Leard. The plaque that was hung, still hangs inside the library when it was dedicated.
Leard gave a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt.
“‘Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering,’” said Leard. “These men were worth remembering. They still are, and I hope we remember them for another 60 years.”
Jeanette Tross, whose aunt was married to Maj. Ardis Crumpton, second in command for the mission, was also in attendance.
| Date Taken: | 06.28.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.05.2017 14:47 |
| Story ID: | 240120 |
| Location: | TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 59 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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