A U.S. Air Force sensor operator assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard's 178th shares his story about providing support to firefighters and rescue crews during the historic wildfires in California during the summer of 2020. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Staff Sgt. Zach Tateman)
DAYTON, Ohio— On September 4, 1948, an Airman, assigned to the 162nd Fighter Squadron, was flying a routine navigational training mission above Dayton, Ohio when disaster struck. At 10:52 am, Lt. Richard Dale Christman’s F-51’s left wing broke off of the aircraft at several thousand feet in the air. Twenty five seconds later, the F-51 crashed and 27-year-old Christman died in the crash. Christman was buried at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery.
