The forgotten crash
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Dave Hebbard and Lisa Daly of the Historic Aviation Committee look at a control panel recovered from the plane’s wreckage.
— Submitted photo
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A fallen cross commemorates an officer aboard an American Overseas Airlines flight that crashed into a mountain near Stephenville 66 years ago. At right is newspaper coverage of the crash. — Submitted photo
— Cross photo by Dave Hebbard -
Don Cormier, a local guide, whose father helped the Newfoundland Rangers find the crash site and respond to the tragedy.
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How the memorial site looks now — Image courtesy of Dave Hebbard
Dave Hebbard and Lisa Daly of the Historic Aviation Committee look at a control panel recovered from the plane’s wreckage. 
A fallen cross commemorates an officer aboard an American Overseas Airlines flight that crashed into a mountain near Stephenville 66 years ago. At right is newspaper coverage of the crash. — Submitted photo
Don Cormier, a local guide, whose father helped the Newfoundland Rangers find the crash site and respond to the tragedy.
How the memorial site looks now — Image courtesy of Dave Hebbard
How the memorial site looked in the 1950s. — Image courtesy of Dave Hebbard
Pieces of the wreckage, which was located in August. — Image courtesy of Dave Hebbard
Lisa Daly of the Historic Aviation Committee examines a woman’s shoe recovered from the plane’s wreckage.
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Comments
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- Russ Moore
- - October 9, 2012 at 10:30:15
About 2 weeks before Flagship New England's crash I provided equipment and a movie to demonstrate its use on this aircraft during a test flight from Laguadia. We also did experiments to attempt forcing the entry door open during flight, as a drunken or crazed passenger might. Iam unable to find Hare Mountain on my NL map. Wuld like to know its location and distance from Stephenville. Thanks for you great article. Russ
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- brian
- - October 4, 2012 at 12:58:57
interesting reading .i heard my dad speak of it but he did not show the location.can anyone explain or point it out ?may they rest in peace.
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- Harvey
- - October 4, 2012 at 08:30:43
Most people in the Bay St. George area know about this long-ago crash. Hopefully the Town of Stephenville returns the items to the Harmon Airport for all to see.....and the crash site is given the care and maintenance it deserves. (but I doubt it.)
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- Rebecca
- - October 4, 2012 at 00:40:27
Such a great story! I lived on the west coast for a couple of years and never once heard about this crash which really disappoints me. The people who lost their lives so tragically need to be respected better and it's apart of our history. I'm so glad that something is being done now to try and preserve this site and hike. I recently hiked the Burgoyen's Cove plane crash and thought it was an eerie yet, spectacular site to see. Sadly, there was no signage anywhere!! Our friend in the car ahead of us had hiked it a long time ago so we had a small idea but there is nothing leading you to the exact spot. I think there's one sign at the turn off to the quarry and plane crash off the main road but once you make the turn you've got to find your own way. Anyways, hopefully someday more will be done to keep all sites like this well maintained out of respect and dignity to those who lost their lives and to remember the history. We should never forget these events. I hope to hear about more developments with this story; keep up the great work and research!
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- David Hebbard
- - October 3, 2012 at 13:58:06
We would like to hear from anyone with stories or knowledge of this crash Please contact us at historicaviation@gmail.com Thank you. David Hebbard
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- Glen
- - October 3, 2012 at 13:47:18
Awesome Article!!!! Great to see a piece like this in the paper!
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- Allan Campbell
- - October 3, 2012 at 12:56:34
if they are into Historic Aviation matters; there have been several more crashes in the area; although none as massive as this one was
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- Ken O'Brien
- - October 3, 2012 at 10:02:45
Good to see that people are keeping this memory alive. Many families faced tragedy as a result of this crash. It's our duty to remember such events.
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- Trevor
- - October 3, 2012 at 09:53:01
I've always felt that this crash site deserved more recognition. It was a terrible tragedy that it seems few people outside of the Stephenville area have ever heard of. As is always the case, Stephenville's aviation history gets swept under the rug time and time again. I am a history student at MUN and have found that trying to do research into the story of aviation for Stephenville is a difficult task. There are few records/accounts available and very little writing or attention paid to events such as this crash. Hopefully the site can be repaired and developed into a proper memorial.
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- D.B.Powell
- - October 3, 2012 at 09:13:50
My Dad was still in Britain at the time after just being dischargedin the summer of 1946 from war service in the RN. My brother and I were born in the U.K. but growing up in NL I remember Dad pointing out the hill from the highway and telling us it was the site of a terrible crash of an aifrcraft taking off from Harmon Field just after the war. Thanks to the folk who did all the hiking, climbing and research to uncover this story of Newfoundland aviation history and tragic loss of life.
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- Lisa Daly
- - October 3, 2012 at 09:04:15
The artifacts are currently at MUN to undergo conservation. Once they are cataloged and stable they will be transferred to the collection at the Rooms. Even though they are currently at MUN, they are the property of the province, as per the archaeological permit used to collect them and investigate the site.
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- Lisa Daly
- - October 3, 2012 at 08:44:29
The artifacts are currently at MUN to undergo conservation. Once they are cataloged and stable they will be transferred to the collection at the Rooms. Even though they are currently at MUN, they are the property of the province, as per the archaeological permit used to collect them and investigate the site.
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- jackey
- - October 3, 2012 at 08:31:47
A great article. I never heard of this until reading this.
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- roy
- - October 3, 2012 at 08:21:23
First time i heard of this plane crash. Why are some artifacts kept at MUN and not at the Rooms or some other appropriate place. Looking foreward to hearing more.
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- Sherrieo
- - October 3, 2012 at 07:45:08
thanks for Sharing..i never heard of it..very sad and heartbreaking..there are plane crashes or memorials all the time..but i have never heard this tragic story..looking forward to the biography and hope that this continues on..so horrific...
This is most interesting. I have never heard of this and I grew up on the west coast. I too hope there is something more done to preserve the memorial site. I also look forward to hearing more of the research being done.