On Aug. 9, 1968, reservists from the 907th Tactical Airlift Group, of the 302nd Tactical Airlift Wing stationed at the Clinton County Air Force Base, were finishing their two-week summer active duty training and heading to Otis AFB in Massachusetts.

The third and last flight was a C119G (Flying Boxcar). Just after takeoff the transport began to lose power and crashed on the Griffith Farm on Berlin Road.

Six airmen reservists of the 25 aboard were killed:

• Sgt. Ernest Arehart, 24, Sabina

• TSgt. William B. Hansford III, 52, Wilmington

• A1C Michael L. Wiford, 21, Dayton

• A1C Paul U. Ruschau, 26, Dayton

• Sgt. Richard N. Hall, 26, Greenfield

• Sgt. David A. Husinga, 25, Columbus.

TSgt. William B. Hansford III of Wilmington left behind a wife and three small children ages 9, 7 and 4; Carolyn (Cari) Hansford Middleton is his middle child.

To honor her father and the five other reservists who gave their lives on this day, Cari Middleton applied for, and was approved, to receive an Ohio Historical Marker to commemorate this event in August 2019.

With an anticipated marker cost of more than $3,600, she is raising funds to pay for the marker.

If you would like to donate, please make a check payable to the Clinton County History Center and send it to PO Box 529, Wilmington, OH 45177.

For more information, contact the Clinton County History Center at 937-382-4684 or at [email protected].