Famous crash 50 years ago

[DaveSims]

On February 2, 1959, an aircraft carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens took off from the Mason City Airport during a snow storm and crashed 4 miles northwest in a corn field.  I am hearing a lot about it lately, as I work at the Mason City Airport, and live just blocks away from the Surf Ballroom where they played what would be their final concert.

[Hagar]

I remember seeing the headlines in the paper the following morning. I was a big fan of Buddy Holly & the Crickets & couldn't believe it. Strange how Buddy was more famous here in the UK than in his own country until after his tragic death.

I'm still a big fan of their music & last saw the original Crickets performing in my home town a couple of years ago. Absolutely brilliant!

[DaveSims]

That explains the number of Brits that have been coming into here this week.  Buddy Holly was well before my time, but around here it is legend.  Every year they have an annual winter dance like they did then, but this year is the 50th anniversary so its even bigger.  Last night they inducted the Surf Ballroom into the Rock and Roll hall-of-fame, plus rumor has it we can expect some rock celebrities, of the British variety, to make appearances this weeknd

[Hagar]

Indeed. He has a big following in this country including Paul McCartney who purchased the publishing rights to his music some years ago. He is also a personal friend of the Crickets & recorded their last album in his studio. He is quoted as saying that if it wasn't for the Crickets there would have been no Beatles.

Holly had split with the original Crickets (Jerry Allison & Joe B Maudlin) some time before going on that final tour. His new band included Waylon Jennings who gave up his seat on the doomed aircraft to the Big Bopper.

[DaveSims]

Indeed. He has a big following in this country including Paul McCartney who purchased the publishing rights to his music some years ago. He is also a personal friend of the Crickets & recorded their last album in his studio. He is quoted as saying that if it wasn't for the Crickets there would have been no Beatles.

Holly had split with the original Crickets (Jerry Allison & Joe B Maudlin) some time before going on that final tour. His new band included Waylon Jennings who gave up his seat on the doomed aircraft to the Big Bopper.

One of the possible appearances for this years winter dance.  Another rumor going around is that Jerry Dwyer, who owned the FBO and the aircraft that they chartered, is supposed to be writing a book about that night.  He has always had his own idea of what happened on that flight, legend has it that he still has the aircraft.  I know Jerry personally and have never seen the aircraft, but I do know he doesn't get rid of anything, including many aircraft on our airport that are permanent residents of our ramp.

[Hagar]

Indeed. He has a big following in this country including Paul McCartney who purchased the publishing rights to his music some years ago. He is also a personal friend of the Crickets & recorded their last album in his studio. He is quoted as saying that if it wasn't for the Crickets there would have been no Beatles.

Holly had split with the original Crickets (Jerry Allison & Joe B Maudlin) some time before going on that final tour. His new band included Waylon Jennings who gave up his seat on the doomed aircraft to the Big Bopper.

One of the possible appearances for this years winter dance.

Wouldn't surprise me if McCartney turns up. Be nice if Jerry Allison & Joe B can also attend. There was a lot of bad feeling when they were unceremoniously sacked all those years ago.

Another rumor going around is that Jerry Dwyer, who owned the FBO and the aircraft that they chartered, is supposed to be writing a book about that night.  He has always had his own idea of what happened on that flight, legend has it that he still has the aircraft.  I know Jerry personally and have never seen the aircraft, but I do know he doesn't get rid of anything, including many aircraft on our airport that are permanent residents of our ramp.

Very interesting. I've seen Jerry Dwyer's name mentioned in reports on the crash. From the photos I've seen there wasn't a lot left of the aircraft. I would be surprised if he's still got it.

[WebbPA]

American Pie

"American Pie" is a folk rock song by singer-songwriter Don McLean ...

The song is an abstract story of his life that starts with the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) in a plane crash in 1959, and ends in 1970; in the song he called the plane crash "the day the music died ..."

Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock

[Hagar]

American Pie

"American Pie" is a folk rock song by singer-songwriter Don McLean ...

The song is an abstract story of his life that starts with the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) in a plane crash in 1959, and ends in 1970; in the song he called the plane crash "the day the music died ..."

Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock

[DaveSims]

Well The Crickets have landed so far.  This weekend sounds like it will be a mad rush at the airport.

[Hagar]

[quote]Well The Crickets have landed so far.

[DaveSims]

Sorry, don't have my camera at work today.  I didnt' know who they were until we asked the pilots after they left.  Maybe Monday/Tuesday when everyone is leaving.  

[beaky]

Very sad. All three of them were such beloved icons, and so young and full of promise!!  :'(

A link to the CAB (now FAA) report:

http://www.buddyhollymemorabilia.com/bh ... eport.html

There have been all sorts of strange theories about this tragedy (including something about a gun going off in the plane at some point), but it looks to me like a classic case of a pilot biting off more than he could chew. An interesting factor was his unfamiliarity with the newfangled (and kinda weird) Sperry gyro horizon... on top of the other serious flaws in his plan.

I also wonder if the plane was carrying some frost or even ice before takeoff... he probably never made it into the forecast icing conditions, but it was a nasty night.

[Hagar]

There have been all sorts of strange theories about this tragedy (including something about a gun going off in the plane at some point), but it looks to me like a classic case of a pilot biting off more than he could chew.

Odd how when someone famous is killed or disappears there's never a simple explanation as with us ordinary folk. The media love these conspiracy theories & the wilder they are the better. What possible reason would anyone in that aircraft have for waving a gun around so soon after take-off?

[DaveSims]

Around here the crash has been attributed to an inexperience ,NON INSTRUMENT RATED pilot flying into limited visibility at night.  He was also unfamilar with the Sperry type artificial horizon, which reads reverse of what other horizon indicators show.

[specter177]

[quote]Around here the crash has been attributed to an inexperience ,NON INSTRUMENT RATED pilot flying into limited visibility at night.