A United Airlines Douglas DC-8-71

The Douglas DC-8 of United Airlines Flight 173, similar to above, was en route from Denver to Portland International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1978. An alarm indicating a landing gear malfunction forced the plane to circle the Portland area 
while the problem was investigated by the crew. The big jet ran out fuel within an
hour and crash landed in a sparsely populated area near 157th and East Burnside, 
killing 10 and seriously injuring 24 of the 189 passengers who were aboard the jet..

   Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976)

Hughes was a industrial magnate, investor, aviator, aerospace engineer,
and maverick film producer who was also one of the wealthiest people 
in the world. He became a Las Vegas recluse before his death due to
kidney failure.

The Hughes H-4 Hercules with Howard Hughes at the controls

 
     April 19, 1976 cover of TIME magazine

               
                 John Belmont

(click for larger image)

Artist’s depiction of the five lost TBM Torpedo Bombers

The so-called "Lost Squadron", Flight 19, departed at about 2:10 P.M. from the U.S.  Naval Air Station, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They were on an authorized overwater navigational training flight. A radio message intercepted at about 4 P.M. that
afternoon was the first indication that Flight 19 was lost. They were never heard
from again. A PBM patrol plan was launched at approximately 7:30 P.M to search
for the missing squadron, but this aircraft was never seen nor heard from after it
took-off. Flight 19 remains one of the great aviation mysteries of the Bermuda
Triangle.

The Martin PBM Mariner seaplane

Flight 19’s scheduled navigation exercise

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a Congressionally chartered, volunteer, federally supported
non-profit organization that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States
Air Force. The CAP was created with Administrative Order 9, signed by New York
Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia. Major General John F. Curry was appointed as the
first national commander. 

Major General John F. Curry

Civil Air Patrol Cessna T182T