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Red Cross Plane Crash by Martin Murrietta |
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| The San Diego Red Cross used a single engine Ryan AU-32 spotter plane to
ferry supplies to emergency rural medical facilities and for disaster observations.
The Red Cross flew the plane out of Brown Field in El Cajon. At the end of runway 125 grew an endangered species of Red Oak trees. The Airport Authority and a small group of environmentalists were at odds as to whether it was better to move the runway, or move the tree. During a routine takeoff in November 1937 the pilot of the Red Cross plane lost power
and collided with an Oak Tree. The pilot was uninjured, but the plane was a total loss.
The tree also survived but an unfortunate "tree-hugger" who was tying green
ribbons around the tree at the time, suffered a minor brain concussion. He and the pilot
later married and together operated the miniature train in Balboa Park. |
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 Table of Contents San
Diego Hysterical Society home page. |
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