Action Photographs
1950s - Page 2

Aircraft Crash, 1951

From the collection of Ray Maher

Airplane Crash, South 7th Street. FF Ray Maher and E/FF V. J. Marino standing at right. Photo 1951.

Aircraft Crash, 1954

all from the collection of Jim Ackley

Two Navy jets, an F-9F4 and an F-9F5, collide head-on in midair above the east foothills, killing both pilots. Wreckage from the planes was found along a 5 mile stretch about a mile north of McKee Rd. Although a number of homes were damaged, there were no other injuries. In the top photo, County Firefighters examine a piece of wreckage. Off-duty County Fire personnel assisted the Navy in rounding up the debris and keeping souvenir hunters from removing it. County Communications also aided by channeling calls about wreckage. Photos from San Jose Evening News articles, 27 Dec 1954.

Aircraft Crash, 1956

from the collection of Jim Ackley

Airplane crash, Evergreen district. One pilot was killed and another parachuted to safety after a wooden wing sheared from a WWII Fairchild PT-23 training plane stunting 1800 feet above the Evergreen district, 1-1/2 miles east of Hillview Golf Course. The plane crashed into a farmyard, narrowly missing several playing children. Photos taken from San Jose Mercury newspaper clippings, 8 Feb 1956.

Search & Rescue, 1956

from the collection of Jim Ackley

Firefighter Charles Mingroni assists in the search of an abandoned quicksilver (mercury) mine off Hillsdale Av for two missing boys. From a newspaper clipping dated 28 August 1957. Although the boys were later found elsewhere, Mingroni's back was injured during this search when someone pulled on the rope tied around his waist.

Aircraft Crash, 1957

both from the collection of Jim Ackley

A Navy F4D1 Skyray jet bound for Moffett Field crashes near Cambrian Park. The pilot bailed out of the disabled aircraft, which crashed in the yard of a home at 15347 National Av, about half a mile southeast of the San Jose-Los Gatos Rd. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Similar crashes of an F4D in a Mountain View nursery on 1 October 1957, in which the pilot was killed, an FSU Crusader crash in Mountain View on 6 January 1958, and the crash of an F4D Skyray near New Almaden on 10 January 1958, four days later, were some of the deciding factors in the relocation of fighter wings away from Moffett Field. Photos from newspaper clippings, 10 May 1957.

Aircraft Crash, 1957

from the collection of Jim Ackley

from the collection of Charles Mingroni

County firefighters direct a stream of water onto the wreckage of "Night Twister" airplane which crashed into an East Side pasture, killing the pilot, a 22 year old San Jose State College student, who was flying the small, experimental speed plane for the first time. The 16 foot long aircraft crashed into a cow pasture at Story Rd and Capitol Av about a minute after takeoff from Reid Hillview airport. Top photo from a newspaper clipping dated 4 May 1957. The bottom four photos show firefighter Charles Mingroni putting out the fire. Note that these bottom photos have been digitally modified, blurring out the pilot's body.

Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Central Fire engines pumping a fire. Date unknown.

Santa Clara County Fire Dept Archive

Engine pumps from a hydrant. The presence of the fire alarm box indicates that this was in the Alum Rock area. The Sunset Avenue signpost would confirm that; this is probably at the corner of Sunset Av and either Story Rd or Alum Rock Av. Date unknown.