Senate Joint Resolution No. 9–Senators Rawson, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Raggio, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

 

Joint Sponsors: Assemblymen Brown, Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION—Urging Congress to declare the 1955 crash site of a United States Air Force C‑54 near the summit of Mount Charleston as the “Silent Heroes of the Cold War National Monument.”

 

   Whereas, While hiking to the summit of Mount Charleston in 1998,

 Steve Ririe stopped near the debris of a mysterious plane crash that had

 stirred his curiosity as a Boy Scout during hikes many years before and,

 this time, the deep reverence he felt started him on the journey that would

 uncover the names and the story of the people who died on this lonely

 mountain; and

   Whereas, The story began over 40 years earlier during a tense time of

 the “Cold War” following World War II when the reality of the atomic

 bomb made the United States aware of the desperate need for a more

 reliable reconnaissance plane that could assess the offensive capabilities

 and target the most dangerous missile assets of Russia’s new military

 muscle, and so the project to develop the U-2 was born; and

   Whereas, The DC-4 with the military designation of C-54 and known

 as USAF 9068 was routinely assigned to carry scientific and technical

 personnel to the secret Area 51, known at this time as “Watertown,” to

 develop the plane that was unknown to most citizens of the United States

 until one was shot down over Russian territory on May 1, 1960, resulting

 in the capture of its pilot, Francis Gary Powers; and

   Whereas, On November 17, 1955, the C-54 left the Lockheed “Skunk

 Works” in Burbank, California, for the Military Air Transport Service

 flight to “Watertown,” beginning the 18th round trip in the past 30 days

 for Pilot George Manual Pappas, Jr., Co-Pilot Paul Eugene Winham,

 Flight Mechanic Technician Clayton D. Farris and Flight Attendant Guy

 R. Fasolas; and

   Whereas, Flying by the pilot’s sight and instruments alone, to avoid

 any possible leak about its secret destination, on a new route that would

 cut 10 minutes off the total flight time, the C‑54 was blown off course by a

 severe storm front; and

   Whereas, While lost in the clouds, an error in the assumed position of

 the aircraft in relation to the Spring Mountain range resulted in the crash a

 mere 50 feet below the crest of an 11,300-foot ridge leading to the peak of

 Mount Charleston which instantly took the lives of the four crewmen and

 10 civilians on board; and

   Whereas, As news of the crash reached Las Vegas, the Air Force

released the names of the victims, closed the road into Kyle Canyon,

 notified the families, who were told only that it had happened on a

 business trip, and told the media the plane was headed for Indian Springs;

 and

   Whereas, Because of the classified nature of the project that would

 develop a plane essential to our national security, it would take over 40

 years for the truth regarding the “Lost Bird” to be released and the

 curiosity and dedicated efforts of Steve Ririe to bring the details of the

 crash to light; and

   Whereas, Those who worked so hard in secrecy for the good of our

 country, on an aircraft that some people believe prevented World War III,

 were finally given the honor due them in 1998 when the U-2 project

 received the Collier Trophy from the National Aeronautics Association for

 the advancement of aeronautic technology; and

   Whereas, The men aboard the ill-fated C-54 helped build the plane

 which critics said could never be built and which is still a functional and

 vital part of our reconnaissance force today and paid for that contribution

 with their lives; now, therefore, be it

   Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada,

 Jointly, That the men aboard the C-54 that crashed on Mount Charleston

 on November 17, 1955, George Manual Pappas Jr., Paul Eugene Winham,

 Clayton D. Farris, Guy R. Fasolas, John H. Gains, Edwin J. Urolatis,

 James W. Brown, William H. Marr, James F. Bray, Rodney H.

 Kreimendahl, Terence J. O’Donnell, Fred F. Hanks, Harold C. Silent and

 Richard J. Hruda, will long be remembered for their contribution to our

 national security which cost them their lives; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature hereby urges Congress to

 declare the crash site of United States Air Force 9068 near the summit of

 Mount Charleston as the “Silent Heroes of the Cold War National

 Monument”; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy

 of this resolution to the Vice President of the United States as the

 presiding officer of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

 Representatives, each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation

 and Steve Ririe; and be it further

   Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.

 

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