◆ SpookStack

Subjeoty Final Mission Report” 4 August 1947 The belief that the crash was that of the unreported «25, The Passenger, Sgte 1 TAPF, of FT. LAWTON, SEATTLE, was uninjured, but reported that the erew chief, T/Sgte We De MATHEWS, was at a farm house near the scene of the eragh and was injured. gts TAFF then led an ambulance to Sgt. MATHEWS who was subsequently taken to ¢ local hospital, At 0610 PST an attempt was made to telephone Sq, 3 at HAMILTON FIELD but no ancwer was received; however, it was known that HAMILTON APS was re of the inoident and would notify Sq. 3, At O700 PST Capt. LITTRELL departed in e Ce46 for KBLSO, At O745 PST Sq B wae contacted by phone end givon a flash report. At O905 PST CAPT LITTRELL phoned and informed that he had placed CAPTAIN FORSBERG in charge of Army personnel proceeding te the scone of the crash. Ro serial search was necessary ee civiliens in the area knew tho exact location of the crash and had reported finding one (1) body in the wreektge. CAPT. LITTRELL prepared to fly Set TAFYF and MATHEWS te MCCHORD FIRLD e for medical attention, arriving at 0945 PSY. The survivors steted that . they believed neither the pilot nor co-pilot has parachuted from the The esuse of the incident was at this time determined to be a fire 9 left engine, CAPT LIT L was informed by Sgt. TAPF that he believed classified documents had been aboard the planes CAPT FORSBERG was instructed to take necessary precautions. An anbulance met the plane St MCCHORD FI¢LD carrying the two survivors and took thom to the hospital. Interrogetion revasled that the left engine had enught fire in the power section and flames ond smoke } read to the flight deck almeat imned- iatelys The crew chief, assisted TAFFY in attaching his chest pack and TAPP abandoned the plane at an estimated altitude of 10,000 ft (thie fact to doubted tut is not considered necesserily rolevant). IATHENS Aelped the pilot and cespilot attach their chest packs (211 per- sonnel had boon wearing the harness) and as he left the plene wes aware that the co-pilot was preparing to follow. The pilot had started to leave and, to the best recollection of MATHEWS, was partially standing and holding the control wheel with his left hand. MAT S statenents indicate that proper emergency procedures had been performed but that the flames had en- veloped the «ntire left side almost immodiate TAPY stated that, because of the full moon and good visibility, he gaw MATHEWS leave the plane and was able to follow the plane to the ground and that he saw no one else bail out. The ship was enveloped in flames and was ! ginning to fell apart before hitting the ground where it exploded and burned about one (1) mile from where he, TAFF, landed. Me lit in a tree, end not knowing how to release his parachute of the quickedetachable kind, out himself loose frou the herness with hie pooket knife. Se kicked end struggled and eventually jumped to the ground, receiving « jolt on impact out was unable to ruess how far he hed fallen. He then followed a cow path for an estimated two (2) miles to a farm house, arriving efter EWS, Woanwhile, as MATHERS Gleared the plane he turned and sew the plane strike the ground, explode and burne Just before or just at the time of impact he saw an object afire thrown clear of the plane but did not know whether it wea & person or part of the planes MATHEWS also Lit in a tree, and efter freeing himself from his harneas, fell to the ground where he injured his back. He lest eonselousmess and on recovering went to the burning plene, about fifty