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Photograph was edited for publication purposes Photograph article dated December 21, 1950 partially reads, "An Air National Guard pilot and a score of Valley residents were alive today, by grace of a miracle. The pilot, Capt. James F. Reid, 30, of Playa del Rey, took off from San Fernando Valley Airport at Van Nuys late yesterday in his F-51 Mustang fighter plane. He had gained only 1000 feet of altitude when his engine faltered and quit. He quickly radioed: 'I'm bailing out.' He did so. The plunging, pilotless plane roared earthward. It skimmed past the St. Michael and All Angels church at 3646 Coldwater Canyon Blvd., Studio City. It screamed over the house of John Gibson at 3967 Oeste Ave. Then it hit the hillside in a brush-covered space. Parts of the craft hurtled through the roof of the Gibson home, where three small boys were sleeping. The Rev. Edward McNair was in the church. All escaped unharmed, as did Capt. Reid, whose parachute dropped him to earth in open hill country. Within a few minutes he was in the church, telephoning his Air Guard unit." Photograph caption reads, "Flaming wreckage - Firemen battle flames of crashed F-51 Mustang fighter plane where it hit near Coldwater Canyon Blvd. south of Ventura Blvd. in Studio City."; See image #00137181 for additional photo in this series.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;15 x 17 cm. Photographic prints
Los Angeles (Calif.).--Fire Department Air pilots--United States Air pilots, Military--United States Airplane crash survival--California--Los Angeles Aircraft accidents--California--Los Angeles Fire fighters--California--Los Angeles Fire extinction--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Mustang (Fighter plane) Studio City (Los Angeles, Calif.) United States--Air National Guard Valley Times Collection photographs Portrait photographs Group portraits
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