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This airplane is a Stinson SM-1F, S/N M505. NC8421 landed once at Tucson, Thursday, May 24, 1934 at 10:25AM. It was flown by Ernst Voss, carrying two passengers he identified as Marian Trace and F.W. Wakefield. They were based at San Francisco, CA and arrived at Tucson from Yuma, AZ. They cited their destination as "Central America." They gave no reason for their trip, but from other sources we discover they were headed for Honduras, where Voss had started Condor Airlines, a small air taxi service.
Western Flying magazine, 1934 stated, "Ivar Akselsen of the Pacific Aircraft Sain [sic, "Sales"?] Co. reports the sale of a J-6-9 Stinson to the Condor Air Lines of Honduras. Ernest Voss, pilot for Condor, took delivery of the plane." The airplane was to be one of his transport craft on the line. Please direct your browser to Voss' page for further information.
Several photographs of NC8421 can be found at the link to the University of California Digital Library (USC). An example is below.
Stinson NC8421, Clover Field, 1931 (Source: USC)
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Of the several photographs at the USC link, one shows the James Granger hangar behind the airplane, setting the location of this photo (and probably the others as well) at Clover Field, Santa Monica, CA. The USC information for the photographs identifies the year as 1931 and the photo client (and probably the aircraft owner) as Tanner Motor Livery.
I have no other information about the chain of custody or other uses of the airplane. However, it's clear it ended its life in Central America. At Voss' link, above, you'll learn that he was killed in an airplane accident on May 28, 1935. I have no other information about the chain of custody or other uses of the airplane. However, it's clear it ended its life in Central America. At Voss' link, above, you'll learn that he was killed in an airplane accident in May 28, 1935. The accident plane was NC8421. Below, from the publication La Luz, dated June, 1935, is a description of the accident and its aftermath.
Article From "La Luz," June, 1935 (Source: Ferrari)
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Thanks to A.I.A. Ferrari, Sociedad de Historia Aeronáutica de Honduras, for sharing this article. A loose translation of the article follows.
Article From "La Luz," June, 1935, Translation (Source: Google Translate)
HORRIFIC CATASTROPHE
THE PLANE, "CONDOR, '' FELL TO EARTH, THE PILOT AND
FOUR PASSENGERS DIE AND TWO SERIOUSLY INJURED.
On May 28 the city of Santa Barbara was painfully impressed by one of the most sensational catastrophes it had ever witnessed.
The German plane "Condor" departed for the two or three hour flight to Florida piloted by experienced aviator Ernst Voss. It carried passengers to San Pedro Sula, Berta Lila Cobos Bonty Lopez, Don Justiniano Trochez and Don Raul Gonzales Leitzelar with his wife Margarita Vidaurreta and his son Raul, two months of age. A young media worker brought the fatal news that the Condor had crashed. Instantly killed was Ms. Lopez. Don Justiniano Trochez, injured badly in the face and chest, was screaming for water. Don Raul Leitzelar lived until two in the morning then expired at home, surrounded by his family and his many friends.
Almost all men and children rushed to the scene, mounted and on foot, despite the three leagues from there and a road and slopes that made you appreciate the sacrifice that prevailed.
Experts examined the crash. It is understood that the pilot made efforts to reach a small plain that was close, but could not raise the airplane and he lost control and crashed.
They ran for help immediately, Doctors Gonzalo Troches, Don Luis Vaquero and Don Emigdio Mena and then the people en masse.
At dusk began to arrive the first corpses and about eleven o'clock the last.
The pilot, Ms. Lopez and the Cobos child were transferred by a TACA plane to San Pedro Sula, which held for them a solemn funeral. Our courageous dear friend Don Justiniano Trochez and his infant, Taul, were buried in the cemetery of this city, with solemn religious ceremonies and a large crowd as rarely seen - the Rough, Priests Don Honorato Coll, Pirroco and Maximiliano Torrez. A healing flame accompanied by the bodies to the graveyard.
Tomorrow a novena of Masses will be held for the soul of Don Justiniano Trochez, attended by many people.
We wholeheartedly regret this misfortune and offer our condolences to the relatives of the victims, for those who beseech the readers of "La Luz" raise their eternal voices for the repose of their souls, RIP. |
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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 01/30/14 REVISED: 12/30/14
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