HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 27
(By Mr. Speaker (Mr. Armstead), Walters, D. Evans and J. Nelson)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name a future bridge with a design number of 10978, longitude 38.39933, latitude -81.57895, carrying future County Route 219/32 over the Elk River in Kanawha County the “West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Fighter Squadron Memorial Bridge.”
Whereas, On April 8, 1951, nine officers and twelve enlisted Airmen of the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Fighter Squadron left Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, aboard a Douglas C-47B Skytrain en route to Charleston, West Virginia, to attend the funeral of a brother pilot. Most of the men aboard the flight had trained for more than three years at Kanawha Airport as members of the West Virginia Air National Guard and had flown thousands upon thousands of miles over the territory without one fatal accident and knew the terrain. All of the pilots of the squadron were veterans of World War II. The previous year the squadron had attained the highest efficiency rating which included morale, operating efficiency, maintenance, safety and many other factors of any Air National Guard squadron in the Nation. Credit for this distinction should go to every member of the squadron which was headed at the time by Lieutenant Colonel James K. McLaughlin of Charleston, West Virginia; and
Whereas, The plane was piloted on April 8 by Captain Edwin Keatley Whittington of Charleston, West Virginia, who had an outstanding war record with the Air Transport Command and joined the 167th when it was formed in the Spring of 1947. Captain Whittington was considered by most as the best “big ship” pilot in the squadron. The co-pilot was 1st Lt. Harry B. Kesler who was also a war veteran with the Air Transport Command. After joining the squadron at its inception, Lieutenant Kesler was severely injured in an automobile accident and wore a steel brace that held his back rigid, but he loved flying so much that he refused to give up his pilot’s rating and his handicap did not impair his skill as a flier. Also on board the flight were T. Sgt. William H. Shelton, S. Sgt. David E. Rollyson, Jr., Cpl. Charles E. Cobb, Cpl. Dennis I. Meeks, S. Sgt. Kenneth C. Amick, Sgt. Richard F. Hazeltine, and Captain Harry K. Blackhurst all of Charleston; Sgt. Winson A. Schoonover, Cpl. Columbus Hall, Cpl. John R. Price, 1st Lt. Herman F. Winter, and Pfc. James Richard Lewis all of South Charleston; Sgt. James E. Creasy of Cabin Creek; Pfc. Jimmy Dolan of Cheylan; 1st Lt. Drexel E. Crites of St. Albans; 1st Lt. Lyle F. Finley of Harrisville; 1st Lt. Charles R. Michaelson of Nitro; 1st Lt. William J. Frank of Montgomery; and Major Isaac E. Bonifas of Portland, Indiana; and
Whereas, Eight miles and four air minutes away from their destination and on their way in to land, the plane struck the side of a hill and vaulted fifty feet on the other side. The second impact tore off the right wing and part of the left wing, and the fuselage skidded 400 feet before it came to rest and burst into flames. Nineteen of those on board were killed in the crash, and two were badly injured and later succumbed to their injuries, making this one of the worst air tragedies in the history of Southern West Virginia. Another plane of Airmen also on their way from Godman Air Base on April 8 to Charleston for the funeral and piloted by Lt. Col. James K. McLaughlin, deputy commanding officer of the 123rd fighter-bomber wing, turned back to Godman following the crash; and
Whereas, It is fitting and appropriate that we honor these fallen West Virginia Air National Guard members by naming a future bridge with a design number of 10978, longitude 38.39933, latitude -81.57895, carrying future County Route 219/32 over the Elk River in Kanawha County the “West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Fighter Squadron Memorial Bridge”; therefore, be it
Resolved by the West Virginia Legislature:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name a future bridge with a design number of 10978, longitude 38.39933, latitude -81.57895, carrying future County Route 219/32 over the Elk River in Kanawha County the “West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Fighter Squadron Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Fighter Squadron Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and to the office of the Adjutant General.