Raven-9  

Virtual Headstone


The photos below are all that's left of the Ball except for what you'll find in the "Photo Archives" listed on Main Page #15. The first four photos below were taken by MSgt. Tom "Short Round" Dodds and TSgt. Art "The Shadow" Reid. I don't remember who took the "Trivia" photo but I do remember when and where it happened. More than one ego took a blow on that day. However, the Ravens had some fun by drawing a telephone pole over the entrance hatch with a notch in it. For some reason the Pilots didn't appreciate our sense of humor. The last photo was taken by MSgt. George "Smitty" Smith after 491's remains were hauled off to the $1,000,000 dump. Before being totally trashed and hauled to the dump everything useful was removed as you can see in the following two photos: Photo #1Photo #2. Both of these photos were taken by SSgt. Robert C. "Clay" Jones in 1969 while assigned to Rivet Amber as an Inflight Maintenance Technician, TDY from Offutt. 

Click Here to view a copy of the USAF Accident Report (HQ AFSC/JA) provided by Eugene J. Willard on 12 January 2009. Gene was the Airborne Mission Supervisor (AMS), aka "Lucy", in charge of Security Service backenders. He was also aboard Rivet Ball when she hydroplaned off the end of runway 28 on 13 January 1969.






T. Dodds & A. Reid
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T. Dodds & A. Reid
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T. Dodds & A. Reid
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T. Dodds & A. Reid
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~ TRIVIA ~ 
Once upon a time there was a light pole next to hangar #2. 
In the dark of night with blowing snow it was struck by guess who?

Ouch




G.Smith
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In 1970 Rivet Ball met her final fate when her remains were soaked with gasoline and torched by the fire department. Bits and pieces of her that remained after the inferno were scraped to the bottom of the overrun slope and buried. What couldn't be buried was carted off to the million dollar dump.
source: Col. Jack Gatewood, Det-1/CC - 1970

The loss of Rivet Ball was a sad day for all of us. May she rest in peace and not be forgotten. Those of us that were fortunate enough to fly with her will never forget. What more can I say.... most of us loved what we did and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. It was a special time and a special place in our lives that will remain with us forever.





Next is my story about "Rivet Amber".

The Hands of Fate

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