Ceremony, marker to commemorate 1964 tragedy; 17 lost their lives in mid-air collision

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WILMINGTON – The public is invited to join in the dedication of an Ohio historical marker and to commemorate and learn about a 1964 military air disaster that is still felt today.

The Ohio History Connection, Clinton County Historical Society, Buckeye Wing Association and Special Forces Association Chapter 45 will dedicate the marker at an event beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at J.W. Denver Williams Memorial Park, 1100 Rombach Ave., Wilmington.

The Clinton County community will come together to remember the 17 heroic U.S. Army and Air Force service members who lost their lives in the April 18, 1964 military air disaster.

That day, the 907th Tactical Group of the 302nd Troop Carrier Wing of the former Clinton County Air Force Base (CCAFB) along with the 2nd Special Forces Group of the Army’s 20th Corps, were scheduled for an operational readiness inspection.

The military members on this mission, which involved nine aircraft, were conducting a run-through of a routine paratroop drop. Weather conditions were poor and the mission was canceled.

Returning to base, two aircraft — C-119 Flying Boxcars — collided in mid-air and crashed, killing 17 of the 19 personnel onboard.

Two of those service members who perished were from Clinton County — one from Wilmington and one from New Vienna.

The mid-air collision of two C-119 aircraft like this one resulted in 17 deaths in Clinton County in 1964.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/04/web1_C-119_Boxcar-Military-Air-Disaster-marker-1.jpgThe mid-air collision of two C-119 aircraft like this one resulted in 17 deaths in Clinton County in 1964. Courtesy photo
17 died in military plane collision

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