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Show Outstanding Search Efforts Win Recognition I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who helped In any way on the search for the downed airplane in the mountains west of Hatch, Utah. We had great response from the Garfield County Sheriff Posse, members of which spent many hours on the search. Many of these men took time off work at their own expense to assist In the search. We also had many other people from the Panguitch and Hatch area give assistance by either manpower, snowmobiles or both. Kane County, Millard County and Iron County search and rescue also assisted in the search. Wreckage of the plane was spotted from the air by a Navy plane which summoned a helicopter, to the scene for first contact after four long, days cf searching and the ground crews started into the area by snowmobiles. The first ground crews into the area were Melvin and Kenneth Miller of Panguitch, and were soon followed by other members of the Garfield Coun- ty Sheriff Posse to begin recovery operations. The plane had burned on impact, and identification of the victims was very difficult. Remains of the six victims were brought out by snowmobile and Utah Highway Patrol snow cat and taken to the Panguitch LDS Hospital and later to a Cedar City moruary then on to San Francisco, their home town. Again I say, "thank you" to all who helped through this tragic ordeal. Keith R. Fackrell Garfield County Sheriff |