American Flyers Memorial
Information on Flight 280/D that crashed April 22, 1966
15 miles NE of Ardmore, Oklahoma
On Monday, March 7, 2000 I took the following two photos of the crash area on Goddard's Ranch:
The main area of the crash looking east toward Highway 177.
Looking southwest down the valley toward the Ardmore Airpark and the NE to SW runway they were trying to reach.
Here's a photo I took of the site at near the airpark entrance weeks before the monument was set.
Some photos I took the week before the June 17, 2000 Dedication:
Photo Number 1. A close up of the memorial site with the Memorial stone covered.
Photo Number 2. A distant view of the memorial site.
Photo Number 3. One of two granite benches with the Donors names on it it.
Photo Number 4. A picnic table that is not quite finished. We hope we can add more picnic tables to the site as memorial donations come in.
Photo Number 5. This is Doug Gray (center with back to us) and others erecting the Charles M. Gray Memorial. Doug made it in Houston and brought it up here to install at the site. The person in dark clothing is Tuck Wilkinson (holding clipboard), who has provided all the landscaping for the memorial site.
Photo Number 6. A close-up view of the Charles M. Gray Memorial.
Friday March 10, 2000 article by The Daily Ardmoreite on the Memorial Fund drive.
This is the article from The Daily Ardmoreite that ran the day after the Satuday June 17, 2000 dedication.
Testimonials I've received as emails from people all over the country regarding the air crash.
This is a listing of those who died.
On February 26, 2000 Rick Feiler and I set up a non-profit account at Citizens Bank and Trust here in Ardmore to hold donations.
American Flyers Memorial Fund
% Butch Bridges
email: Butch Bridges
PO Box 11
Ardmore, OK 73402
Phone 580-223-0892 anytime
Fax 1-781-207-7862
Here are some things we want to add to the Memorial Park:
1. More picnic tables (they cost $300 each)
2. Concrete trash recepticles.
3. A couple metal colverts to make off-street parking available.
If anyone can help us with costs on any of the above, please let me know. We have a special account at the Citizens Bank here in Ardmore to keep all donations. Regarding the picnic tables, names can be sandblasted into them to honor a loved one or organization who makes the donation.
An Accounting of all donations received and expenses paid to date.
Here is the
official information on the crash by the
Aviation Safety Network along with a photo of the
Lockheed L-188C Elecrtra, like the one Mr. Pigman
was flying that dreadful Friday evening.
The new American Flyers Memorial Website