United DC-8 & TWA Constellation-"Mid-Air"-12/16/60-Part l/lll

[etienne818]

I visited my local library and viewed the then (December 1960) "current" accounts (New York City newspapers) of this time - and immediately after. It was awful - the story of the (lone survivor) the Chicago-area boy who lived, and spoke after the United crash, (and died the next day) was heart-breaking. The commercial airline accidents back then were more frequent than today - but, still, were "rare" in the overall view. Just the same, this just rips one's heart. Peace to them!

[ImperialRetrovision]

Crashing was much more civilized and glamorous then.

[keithsy75]

I was 3 years old in Bed-Stuy, sucking my thumb. I heard it. It sounded like a giant M-80 firecracker. It frightened me. I bawled my head off. It will happend again. There is too much deregulation and excessive air traffic over that nieghborhood, which is the path for LGA. I pray God not, but it is bound to happen. I attended the memorial service in December.

[rolex452]

Thank you for posting this. I was 8 years old, living in Brooklyn, NY at that time. My doctor's office was located in the Park Slope section. After the crash, many of the streets were closed to the public, only residents could get in. More than a month after the crash, my mom and I drove past the streets affected by the crash: all I could see, block after block, after block, was a huge mountain of debris and dirt, piled more than 50 feet high. I'll never, ever forget that horrible sight.

[johnritchi]

It was actually 12/16/1960. 50 years ago today...

[mcdonnell220]

@johnritchi D'oh!! Thanks, I'll fix that. :-)

[leehorselogger]

@johnritchi the twa flight engineers name was Lee Rosenthal....I was born 3 days after he was killed...hence my name

[mtanyc]

cool vid

[eduardonpimenta]

Thanks for sharing all these old and historic aviation videos, you´re helping preserve aviation history for all future generations.

[virginbluedude]

thank you so much for the amazing videos you've uploaded, they're truly fantastic and I'd like to thank you for giving aviation enthusiasts some wonderful media to recollect and or celebrate the most defining, attractive and most missed era of air travel and aviation,

[mcdonnell220]

One of the nicest compliments I've ever recieved. Thanks!