Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Mountain of a Mystery...
On June 23, 1943, a B-17 Flying Fortress(serial number 42-3399, nicknamed "Scharazad"), departed Pendleton Army Air Base in Pendelton, Oregon destined for Grand Island, Nebraska. From there, the bomber would join the other members of the 383rd Bomb Group and continue to England to participate in the ongoing World War II bombing campaigns. Around midnight, the captain radioed that their position was near Powder River, Wyoming. They were not heard from again. After the plane failed to arrive in Grand Island, the plane was declared missing and the Army mounted a search effort with no results. A second search was conducted the following year, concentrating on the Wind River, Absaroka and Big Horn Mountains, but still no wreckage was spotted.
On August 12, 1945 two cowboys spotted something shiny on a ridge line in the Cloud Peak area of the Big Horn Mountains. They discovered the wreckage and the deceased crew, and contacted authorities, who conducted an operation to recover the bodies of the crew and return them to their families. It was believed that during earlier search efforts, the paint color of the aircraft blended in closely with the mountain side, making the wreckage difficult to spot. After a few years, the paint wore off, and the shiny aluminum underneath made the plane more visible. No official cause for the crash was ever determined, but it is presumed that malfunctioning navigational equipment, and a moonless night combined with bad weather caused the pilot to not see the ridge until it was too late.
On August 12, 1945 two cowboys spotted something shiny on a ridge line in the Cloud Peak area of the Big Horn Mountains. They discovered the wreckage and the deceased crew, and contacted authorities, who conducted an operation to recover the bodies of the crew and return them to their families. It was believed that during earlier search efforts, the paint color of the aircraft blended in closely with the mountain side, making the wreckage difficult to spot. After a few years, the paint wore off, and the shiny aluminum underneath made the plane more visible. No official cause for the crash was ever determined, but it is presumed that malfunctioning navigational equipment, and a moonless night combined with bad weather caused the pilot to not see the ridge until it was too late.
Lauren and I have decided to hike into the backcountry to find this area known as "Bomber Mountain". A local told me that it is a two day trip up to the crash site. It will be quite the adventure. I am sure we are up to it.
"It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have honors and not deserve them."
-Mark Twain
In honor of the crew of the "Scharazad":
William R. Ronaghan (pilot)
Anthony J. Tilotta (co-pilot)
Leonard H. Phillips (navigator)
Charles H. Suppes (bombardier)
James A. Hinds (aircraft engineer)
Ferguson T. Bell, Jr. (radio operator)
Lee 'Vaughn' Miller (assistant aircraft engineer)
Charles E. Newburn, Jr (assistant radio operator)
Jake F. Penick (aircraft gunner)
Lewis M. Shepaerd (assistant aircraft gunner)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Boogeyman
As far back as I can remember I have scared myself to sleep.
Anthony Hopkins -"We are fascinated by the darkness in ourselves, we are fascinated by the shadow, we are fascinated by the boogeyman."
Not like "normal" children, who often think there is a monster under my bed or the boogeyman is in the closet. I took it a few steps further. Call it a vivid imagination of the most hellish ghouls and decayed macabre corpses ever to sneak into Wes Craven's mind. I would conger these demonic figments and stare at them until I couldn't breath from the fear that gripped me like a wrinkled, puss boiled hand around my throat. I don't know what drove me to these lengths of horror and I still don't. My sister shares this misfortune, but to us we use it more as a gift of art. It drives us to use our minds in ways others could never fathom.
I wrote this blog because I still have these visions........................ I am 23.
Anthony Hopkins -"We are fascinated by the darkness in ourselves, we are fascinated by the shadow, we are fascinated by the boogeyman."
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Grant...."Man Up."
With warming weather and green grass comes the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, and all that comes with it......
Lolo and I recently took a little adventure up to the Big Horn Canyon. We drove out to Barry's Landing and saw a cool little trail that looked like a fun hike. We decided to camp nearby at a small campground and head out first thing in the morning. We had packed up a nice little picnic and some food for that night and were enjoying spending time with the rear door of the Monte open just gazing at the stars while we ate. We got settled into the back of Monte and decided it was too hot. I cracked the rear windows a bit to let a nice breeze roll through and laid down for our first camp out or camp in Monte. It was about midnight or so and I was just about to drift off when.....We heard it. "Swoosh...swoosh....swoosh" through the high grass just outside the car. I froze...I froze...I froze like a little child. It came right up to the car. Lauren was whispering "Roll the windows up!" as franticly as possible and all I could do was say "Shhhh!". It was like a dream, a really really real one. And then IT touched the door of the car. Whatever IT was had claws. You know the sound of fingernails on sheet metal, that unmistakable, "Tap" sound. That's what we heard. My "Boy" was too far out of reach and I couldn't move. I never believed anyone when I heard them say " I was frozen in fear." But there I was, frozen...in fear. All of a sudden I felt a pinch under my arm that brought me out of the daze. I heard Lauren say "Man UP!" So all in one motion I lept past the open windows and turned the key forward while rolling up the windows and grabbing the gun. Lauren crawled into the driver's seat and turned on the headlights and we backed out of our spot, but nothing was there. Nothing, we were scared of nothing. Yeah right, Lauren and I both know what it was. There is nothing to fear but fear itself....(and BEARS!)
-The mountains have always been here, and in them, the bears
-Rick Bass
Lolo and I recently took a little adventure up to the Big Horn Canyon. We drove out to Barry's Landing and saw a cool little trail that looked like a fun hike. We decided to camp nearby at a small campground and head out first thing in the morning. We had packed up a nice little picnic and some food for that night and were enjoying spending time with the rear door of the Monte open just gazing at the stars while we ate. We got settled into the back of Monte and decided it was too hot. I cracked the rear windows a bit to let a nice breeze roll through and laid down for our first camp out or camp in Monte. It was about midnight or so and I was just about to drift off when.....We heard it. "Swoosh...swoosh....swoosh" through the high grass just outside the car. I froze...I froze...I froze like a little child. It came right up to the car. Lauren was whispering "Roll the windows up!" as franticly as possible and all I could do was say "Shhhh!". It was like a dream, a really really real one. And then IT touched the door of the car. Whatever IT was had claws. You know the sound of fingernails on sheet metal, that unmistakable, "Tap" sound. That's what we heard. My "Boy" was too far out of reach and I couldn't move. I never believed anyone when I heard them say " I was frozen in fear." But there I was, frozen...in fear. All of a sudden I felt a pinch under my arm that brought me out of the daze. I heard Lauren say "Man UP!" So all in one motion I lept past the open windows and turned the key forward while rolling up the windows and grabbing the gun. Lauren crawled into the driver's seat and turned on the headlights and we backed out of our spot, but nothing was there. Nothing, we were scared of nothing. Yeah right, Lauren and I both know what it was. There is nothing to fear but fear itself....(and BEARS!)
-The mountains have always been here, and in them, the bears
-Rick Bass
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Locked up Abroad.....
Has anyone else seen this show? If you have you know the intensity it delievers. I have never been a fan of "reality" television or television for that matter, until we got the National Geographic channel. I am truly addicted to it. Locked up Abroad follows the story of individuals who have commited some sort of illegal act in another country. It is usually the college aged backpacker looking for some quick cash which quickly turns into a nightmare. This is really Must See TV.
Every body in the whole cell block....... Jail house ROCK.
Every body in the whole cell block....... Jail house ROCK.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sure I've never seen Wisconsin....
I am sure you all are aware Lo Lo and I took a random trip to see the fam back in Michigan. It was a long and boring 24 hour drive and I thought it might be kinda fun since I hadn't been on a good road trip in a while. We started driving on Thursday evening and were planning on being there Friday afternoon. Well after we got into Rapid City sleep deprivation set in and we called it an early night. After a full nights rest we got up and drove across the Great Sioux Nation's once proud home. (Stopped at Wall Drug). I stayed awake for most of Minnesota and slept the entire state of Wisconsin...one state I have never seen....made it through the Chicago skyline and coasted on into Mattawan, MI about 2 a.m. Saturday morning.
We had a blast! Literally...I bought some cheap rounds for my 'boy' and shot up a bottle in the back yard. I was stunned at the insanely redneck gun store Lauren took me to. Wall to wall people buying everything from shells to Barrett .50 cal sniper rifles. It was awesome. We hung out with friends and had a very happy Easter( Grandpa almost cried laughing with me about Grandma) It's OK Grandma I understand you. We ate at a good BBQ place...gives you stank em' out gas though....I drank some Oberon .... Watched Surfer, Dude and the Passion of the Christ.
We headed home early Tuesday morning and drove all the way to Buffalo, WY before calling it a day. We stayed at a cheesy little motel and I got sick. The next morning we headed over the mountain and made it home really early. All and all it was a fantastic trip and I did stay awake through Wisconsin on the way home!
Dan think's I'm awesome....
We had a blast! Literally...I bought some cheap rounds for my 'boy' and shot up a bottle in the back yard. I was stunned at the insanely redneck gun store Lauren took me to. Wall to wall people buying everything from shells to Barrett .50 cal sniper rifles. It was awesome. We hung out with friends and had a very happy Easter( Grandpa almost cried laughing with me about Grandma) It's OK Grandma I understand you. We ate at a good BBQ place...gives you stank em' out gas though....I drank some Oberon .... Watched Surfer, Dude and the Passion of the Christ.
We headed home early Tuesday morning and drove all the way to Buffalo, WY before calling it a day. We stayed at a cheesy little motel and I got sick. The next morning we headed over the mountain and made it home really early. All and all it was a fantastic trip and I did stay awake through Wisconsin on the way home!
Dan think's I'm awesome....
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