Alaska memorializes those killed in 1964 crash of humanitarian flight

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A month after the second-most-powerful earthquake ever recorded, the Alaska port community of Valdez remained in ruins.

A hulking Alaska National Guard cargo plane’s mission April 25, 1964, was to deliver Gov. William Egan to oversee efforts to rebuild the town on a new site after the magnitude-9.2 earthquake.

After dropping off Egan and surveyors, the twin-engine Fairchild C-123J Provider took off.

Three minutes later, the plane struck the water head-on at full speed, killing all on board. Despite rescue efforts, it quickly sank to the bottom of Prince William Sound.

The Valdez plane crash made national headlines but has mostly faded from memory for all but a few, including Chuck Volanti.

The former Air Guardsman, who arranged the fateful flight as dispatcher, has been working for four years from his home in Olympia, Washington, to honor those lost in the humanitarian mission. On Saturday, his efforts were realized at the unveiling of a memorial he helped design.

Also killed in the crash were Lt. Col. Thomas Norris Jr., the pilot; Maj. James Rowe, co-pilot; and Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Wayne Ayers Sr., flight engineer.

Many relatives of the men killed attended the dedication of the memorial, which carries the likeness of each man.

The Associated Press The Alaska Air National Guard honor guard presents colors Saturday at a plaque dedication ceremony in Valdez, Alaska, for 1964 plane crash victims.