Ed Apanel: Private from Palisades Park, NJ testifies

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Fred Caruso

Edward Apanel Jr., a 19-year old paratrooper from Palisades Park,

Pvt. Edward Apanel

News Story

New Jersey, was injured seriously enough to warrant surgery on his legs. He was evacuated from the Celerina by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Ireland, and then to an Air Force Hospital in England prior to going to Frankfort, Germany. He was able to tell his story some two months after the crash, while participating in the Civil Aeronautics Board hearing on the disaster held at the International Hotel at Idewild Airport (now known as John F. Kennedy International) in Continue reading →

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Going Down with FT923

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Fred Caruso

Few details were available in the first days following the crash. One of the first reliable stories was the list of those on the plane, passengers and crew, and those surviving, dead or missing at sea. The following is a list as reported in the New York Times, re-typed for easier reading and identification:

Those on the Plane:

The Dead:
Passengers:
ALTIERI, Specialist 4 Anthony, New Haven, Conn.
BELL, Sgt. Edmond P., Colorado Springs, CO
BINFORD, Pvt. Harold K., Luverne, MN
BUCEK, Pvt. August Jr., Wauwatosa, WI Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers | 18 Comments

John Murray: Fate of 76 lives in Captain’s hands

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Fred Caruso
Captain John Murray

Capt. Murray

Captain John D. Murray, 44, of Oyster Bay, Long Island, knew 76 lives were at stake as he slowly brought down the Super Constellation in preparation for ditching in the howling winds and raging waves of the cold north Atlantic.

He faced a dilemma as he searched his way through the darkness: he could follow the recommended ditching strategy of putting the plane down between the troughs, or take advantage of the 50-knot winds at sea level, which would cut his landing speed in half. His challenge was to get the plane down, either way, in the dark, in a gale, with 20 foot waves and with no power left to recover for a second attempt if he didn’t get it right the first time. Continue reading →

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Not your typical airplane crash

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Fred Caruso

The Flying Tiger crash was not your typical disaster in many ways, beginning with the fact that it was not simply a big bang crash, but was a disaster drawn out for many hours and even into days!

The drama started when engine #3, the engine immediately to the right of the cabin, began firing sparks and burned out in a flash of flames. The pilot crew squelched the flames in short order, and within minutes, the cabin was aware that there was a problem. Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers, rescue teams | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Flight 923 — 50 Years On

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Fred Caruso

Nearly 50 years ago, a four-engine Lockheed Super Constellation, an L1049H aircraft, with a very distinctive arched tail accented by three vertical tail fins resembling predatory sharks swimming in close formation, launched from McGuire Air Force base in New Jersey, headed for Frankfort, Germany. It carried 78 passengers and crew took. The flight was to take about 19 hours, with one stop over in Gander, Newfoundland, but aircraft never made it. It Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, passengers, Uncategorized | Tagged | 12 Comments