Memorial to Plane Crash, Denali State Park, AK
N 62° 44.744 W 150° 07.793
5V E 646606 N 6960525
Boy Scout Tyler Adams and members of BSA Troop 25 are responsibile for the placement of this memorial, which is included in the Denali State Park Alaska Veterans Memorial at the rest area near Milepost 147.1, Parks Highway.
Waymark Code: WM9AWQ
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 07/24/2010
Views: 11
The plaques on the Memorial by Scout Tyler Adams reads:
"In 2006 two plaques were forged. One was placed here, where the souls of those that serve our country are honored. the other was placed 70 miles to the south at the crash site.
This monument honors those that stand and those that have fallen in the service of our country. May you take with you, from this place, a renewed respect for all those that protect our freedom.
On November 15, 1957, a TB-29 Superfortress from the 5040th radar evaluation squadron based at Elmendorf Air Force Base was on a routine radar calibraton mission with ten crewmen aboard. flying south in bad weather down the Sisitna Valley toward Elendorf AFB, the plane strayed 27 miles to the east into the Talkeetna Mountains. It crashed at the 5,600 ft. level of a glacier just northeast of Haither Pass.
Major Robert A Butler*
Staff Sergeant Calvin K. Campbell
Techinical Sergeant Manuel Garza
1st Lieutenant Claire W. Johnson
Staff Sergeant Robert J. McMurry
Airman Basic James D. Robertson*
1st Lieutenant William J. Schreifler*
Captain Richard O. Seaman*
Captain Erwin Stoifich*
Captain Edward A Valiant*
(*=Deceased)
Staff Sergeant Calvin K. Campbell was credited with saving the lives of the three other survivors. In spite of his own injuries, he sought out his fellow crewmen and carried thos that could be moved to shelter. He wrapped the men in parachutes and sleeping bags to protect them from the storm until rescuers arrived. As a result of his actions, Staff Sergeant Campbell received the Soldiers Medal. This is the highest possible award for valor in a non-combat situation.
Lieutenant Jack A. Wolf in a Gumman SA-16 Albatross amphibian was the first to spot the downed plane. 1st Lieutenant Thomas Seebo and Captain Melvin Swendls piloted the Pinsecki SH-21 Workhorse search and rescue helicopters that rescued the downed airmen. The information on this plaque was provided, in part, by the Office of History, Eleventh Air Force.
This plaque is part of a Boy Scout service project by Tyler Adams and members of Troop 25 with the help of NANA Development Corporation, Security Aviation, Alaska Airlines, Anchorage House of Harley-Davidson, Able Body Shop, Worksafe Inc, Rep. Don Young, & T Foundry and Design and the Alaska State Parks.
This monument prepared with the help of: Mat-Su Memorials, Lynden Inc, Weaver Bro Inc, Schuetter Trucking."
Name of Eagle Scout: Tyler Adams
Project Completion Date: 01/01/2006
Troop Number: Troop 25
Troop Location: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Provide a picture at the location of the Eagle Project and explain how the project has benefited you by it being placed here.