1 talking about this. For the previous decade, famous author and underwater archaeologist, Clive Cussler has funded the search for Flight 2501, sending Ralph Wilbanks, one of the world's best side-scan sonar operators, to South Haven. Cussler's team wasn't able to make it this year, so van Heest's team has taken over. The Coast Guard were able to get divers to the oil slick, but they couldn't go any farther because of bad visibility conditions and the silty bottom. Researchers who have spent years hunting for the plane's remains set out again this springbut this time have more advanced equipment and a much narrower search area. This was 58 pounds below the maximum permissible takeoff weight, and the load was distributed so that the center of gravity was within approved limits. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. She said finding what remains of the plane could not only solve a historical mystery, but also help provide families answers and closure. NWA Flight 2501 was considered the worst aviation crash of its time and as one of the greatest tragedies of the Great Lakes. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. All rights reserved. Thanks for letting me share this! Since there were other flights in the area, that permission could not be granted, and that is the last known communication from Flight 2501. It features a similar alignment to the famous formation found in England, except it has one outlying boulder with whats believed to be an ancient carving of a Mastodon. This is a story about history, and Washington County is very historic.. The Mystery of NWA Flight 2501 | wzzm13.com At 2251, Flight 2501 reported that it was over Battle Creek at 3,500 feet, and that it would be over Milwaukee at 2337. When he awoke, he was wearing weird clothes and his backpack contained random maps. "We think we have a pretty good chance," Busch said. "I believe it was the error of Northwest (air traffic) controllers, that they did not inform the pilot that the squall line had changed its path,"van Heest said. Some trace it back to the 1679 disappearance of the Le Griffon, while others reference the 1891 disappearance of the Thomas Hume. "My uncle went up and identified the things as belonging to my dad.". ", "It was hard knowing that's all my mother had," said Cathy Barton-Snyder, who was 3-years old when her father died on Flight 2501, and now resides in San Antonio, Texas. At 7:30 on the evening of Friday, June 23, 1950, Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501 departed New York City on a transcontinental. Visibility was less than eight inches. Register now (free) for customized features, flight alerts, and more! "This art will hopefully show the moments right before whatever caused the plane to crash.". Expedition Unknown Official Show Page | Discovery However, their reason for taking the aircraft remains a mystery. Many of Merle Barton's possessions are on display at the museum for the public to see, including a stamp book he was carrying, several pieces of clothing, including the shredded suit jacket believed to have been worn by Mr. Barton when the plane crashed. The plane was builttotransport military personnel during World War II before Northwest converted it for commercial passenger use, van Heest said. A proponent of the Bermuda Triangle, he felt Lake Michigan was governed by similar forces. MU Plus+ Podcasts. The plane and victims were never found. (18 minutes early) 1h 51m elapsed 1h 58m total travel time 7m remaining. He flies Spirit of Freedom nationwide to support that cause. Jackie Eldred, wife at the time, was in her home when she was woken by a roar. They never contacted us, never said that 'we're sorry,' or anything. Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501 was a DC-4 prop-liner that flew daily transcontinental routes connecting the east coast of New York City to the far west coast of Seattle, Washington when it . Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501 was a DC-4 propliner operating its daily transcontinental service between New York City and Seattle when it disappeared on the night of June 23, 1950. Valerie van Heest, a co-founder and researcher with MSRA, teamed up with author and explorer, Clive . The aircraft was destroyed. Sources Flight data API with on-demand flight status and flight tracking data. What happened on the stormy afternoon of June 23rd, 1950, over Lake Michigan? Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Weaving past and present together through meticulous research and heart-rending interviews, V. O. van Heest paints a captivating portrait of the victims, vividly recreates the last few hours of Flight 2501, and reveals that the answers are sometimes found in unexpected places.
