Randy Losey

George, I have some additional information on 61-0331. Originally 61-0331 was a T/RIA bird (Telemetry Range Instrumentation Aircraft) out of Patrick AFB and was converted by LVT Corporation prior to arrival to WPAFB in 1971. It was just shortly after being transferred that the accident happened. From my understanding there were design issues of the large radome atop the newly modified aircraft that were a concern by those at WPAFB. It is thought that the failure of the radome caused the accident that killed 24. Although I was stationed at WPAFB some years after the accident I had never heard of this loss. In the memorial gardens at the National Museum of the Air Force there is no recognition of the loss of the crew. The only reason that I found out about 331 was in researching the ARIA (Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft) for my ARIA history web site. I was a crew member with ARIA and operated/maintained the antenna control system. After learning about the loss of 331 I felt it was important to have an online memorial for the crew. I am President and Founder of the ARIA 328 Memorial Foundation and included the online memorial on the foundation's web site. It was less than a week after I posted the 331 memorial that the son of one of the crew members contacted me. Memorials are important for those of us who are left behind. The online memorial for 61-0331 is located at http://ariamemorial.com/61-0331.html and provides additional information about the aircraft and crew. Randy