The Crash

National Guard veteran can never forget that night

Published Nov. 13, 2005 HUNTINGTON -- Gary Bunn never has forgotten that night. He's afraid he never will. The 71-year-old Huntington man was the city's planning director when 75 Marshall University players, coaches and fans died in a plane crash as they returned to Tri-State Airport in 1970. He also was commander of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, of the West Virginia Army National Guard.

Community still feels the pain of MU plane crash

Published Dec. 31, 1999 HUNTINGTON -- Not quite 30 years later, it is still known as just "The Crash." On a rainy, foggy, cold November night in 1970, life changed forever in Huntington. An airplane, carrying the Marshall University football team, its coaches and some of the top leaders in the city crashed into the side of a hill as it descended into Tri-State Airport, killing everyone on board.

Rescuer recalls crash

Published Nov. 12, 2000 HUNTINGTON -- Thirty years later, Damon Slone cries easily and without shame when he recalls the Marshall University plane crash that killed most members of the Thundering Herd football team.

The story of the 1970 Marshall Plane Crash

HUNTINGTON -- Well-wishers bidding goodbye to the 75 Marshall University football players, coaches and fans who took off from Kinston, N.C., after a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to East Carolina University in Greenville, couldn't have known that was the last time they would see them alive.

Transcript of cockpit voice recording from the crash

Docket No. -- SA-422 Exhibit No. -- 12B NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Bureau of Aviation Safety Washington, D.C. 20591 COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER SPECIALIST'S FACTUAL REPORT OF INVESTIGATION By Robert D. Rudich

Huntington in 1970 was a simpler time

HUNTINGTON -- Remember 1970? In one way, the Marshall University plane crash didn't happen that long ago. But maybe it just seems so, because devastating tragedies burn themselves into our memories and anniversary observances keep them ever before us.

1970 Huntington trivia questions

In March 2006, The Herald-Dispatch asked readers, "How much do you know about the Huntington of 36 years ago?" An overwhelming 194 readers responded. Three people got all 14 questions correct -- Ron Raines of Orchard Park, N.Y., Marc Williams of Huntington and Mary Pauley of Huntington. We threw all of the names into a hat, and Mary Pauley's name was drawn as the winner. She received a copy of the 1970 Grammy CD "Bridge over Troubled Water," the 1970 Oscar winner DVD "Patton" and a $20 gift certificate from Jim's.

1970 facts

TELEVISION: There are no cable news networks. CBS still is airing "rural comedies" such as "Beverly Hillbillies," "Green Acres," "Hee Haw" and "Mayberry RFD" (successor to "The Andy Griffth Show") in prime time. It will dump them all next year because, the network says, national advertisers want to target young, urban audiences.