Remembering victims of 1980 Flag Day plane crash

monument-ceremony

Yesterday marked the 39th anniversary of a not so happy Flag Day in the history of Ameican Samoa.

This was the Flag Day of 1980, when a military plane carrying parachuters for a skydive into the Fagatogo Malae crashed in Utulei.

Seven persons died in the crash, including all six crewmen of the plane.

The seventh victim was a Japanese man, who was in the Rainmaker Hotel which caught fire when the plane crashed into the beach wing.

The plane was based at Mofett Field Naval Air Station, CA. It had just dropped six US Army parachute jumpers over Fagatogo malae.

Three jumpers were blown off their target and the plane turned, apparently to follow their descent when it snagged on a cable of the tramway.

A monument at the tramway site in Utulei is inscribed with the names of those who died in the crash.

Yesterday the sister of Tom Montis, a 20 year old avionics technician who was on board the plane, said on Facebook, “My brother Tom and his crew members aboard that flight were killed as a crowd of 7,000 gathered to watch skydiving during Flag Day celebration in American Samoa.

“He is remembered today.”

The sister, Chris DelViscio Montis and her husband, visited the monument last year and also talked with local residents recalling that tragic event.

With the endorsement of Acting Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga, the American Samoa Visitors Bureau organized a brief ceremony at the monument site on Tuesday in remembrance of the crash victims.

Deputy Director Vaitoa Hans Langkilde said the monument was refurbished in a collaborative effort by the Satala shipyard, ASPA, the Governor’s Office and Visitors Bureau.

He thanked Island Flowers by Liana for the bouquet that was placed at the monument.