|
1965
|
January 16, 1965 - 30 died in plane crash at Piatt & 20th - think what went through the minds of the crew of E-10 when they turned onto Piatt, first Engine Company to arrive.
January 16, 1965, 9:31 AM - KC-135 Jet tanker crash at 20th and Piatt. 30 died and 15 homes were destroyed.
January 16, 1965 - KC135 Tanker crash at Piatt & 20th, looking south on Piatt.
January 16, 1965 - KC135 Tanker crash at Piatt & 20th.
June 2, 1965, 11:03 a.m. - Farha Redbud Market fire at 21st and Grove - Firefighter Gary Lee Barrow died and 5 other firefighters were injured.
June 2, 1965 - Farha Redbud Market fire.
June 2, 1965 - Farha Redbud Market fire - on roof.
June 2, 1965 - Farha Redbud Market fire - Front windows.
June 2, 1965 - Farha Redbud Market fire.
1965 - Station No. 1 B-Shift - school in session.
| The first of January, 1965, saw a new pension plan adopted by firefighters. It offered two options, the A-Plan or the B-Plan. The B-Plan required a 3% salary contribution, whereas, the A-Plan required 5 1/2%, but had the added benefit of off-duty death coverage. Many of the men elected to go to the new A-Plan. All new men came under the A-Plan and old members had the opportunity to buy into it.
On January 16, the most tragic fire incident in the history of the City occurred, when a loaded jet fuel tanker crashed in northeast Wichita. The aircraft had just taken off from McConnell Air Force Base in the southeast part of the City. Due to engine failure, the huge plane plummeted to earth in a gigantic fire and explosion that rocked the City and sprayed the adjacent homes with burning fuel. The first company to arrive at the scene, immediately radioed for a second alarm. Additional calls for assistance brought off-duty personnel, units from the Sedgwick County, McConnell Air Force Base, and reserve firefighters. The toll in this disaster numbered thirty lives, including seven crew members of the aircraft. Ten homes were lost and others were damaged. Although this type of accident had been feared for years, this crash was the only one involving a large aircraft to occur despite thousands of flights over the City.
In February, the 13th fire station, a new No. 8, was opened at Central and Elder on the west side.
In June, a fire occurred at the Redbud Supermarket at Grove and 21st Street. During firefighting operations, an explosion occurred that took the life of one firefighter (Gary Lee Barrow) and injured five others. This was the first time in more than twenty years that death had visited the Wichita Fire Department. While the men of the department were stunned by this loss, the realization, "that it can happen" was reemphasized in the minds of those present that day.
Back to Top
|
 |
|
|
Related to 11 - The Reawakening |
|
|
|
|
|
|