On Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Montana’s Capitol, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer will commemorate the tragedy that took the lives of former Montana Governor Donald G. Nutter and five others fifty years ago. The public event will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Governor’s Reception Room. The event is open to the public.
Then Lieutenant Governor Tim Babcock who was sworn in as Governor following the confirmation of Governor Nutter’s death, along with former First Lady Betty Babcock will join Governor Schweitzer at the event. Major General John Walsh, Montana National Guard adjutant general, will also participate in the event along with leadership and members of the Montana Air National Guard, still based at Gore Hill, Great Falls.
“We are humbled and privileged to honor these fine men who perished on that cold January day 50 years ago and to commend their commitment to public service,” said Governor Schweitzer.
On Jan. 25, 1962, a Montana Air National Guard C-47 aircraft departed Helena for Cut Bank. On board in addition to Governor Nutter, were his executive secretary Dennis Gordon, State Agriculture Commissioner Edward Wren, Montana National Guardsmen, Major Joseph R. Devine, Major Clifford E. Hanson and Crew Chief MSgt. Charles “Chico” Ballard. The Governor was scheduled to speak to three groups in Cut Bank that day.
Radio communication from the plane to the Gore Hill tower indicated that the Governor wanted to take a closer look at the projected new Interstate 15 highway route and that several passes would be flown over the Wolf Creek area. Such a flight was not unusual and was well with the operational limits of the C-47. When the plane was reported overdue for its scheduled arrival in Cut Bank and efforts to communicate with the plane failed, efforts to locate the plane began.
The crash was first reported by loggers working in the Wolf Creek area and the crash site was confirmed within hours by the local sheriff’s office and National Guard personnel to be that of the missing plane. The investigation concluded the right wing of the aircraft sheared off, perhaps partly due to hurricane strength winds reported at in the area at the time. All on board the C-47 were killed in the accident.
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