Spanish Village, Remembers 50th Anniversary of "Skymaster" Rescue

By Lt. Ben Tisdale, Naval Station Rota, Spain, Public Affairs

GRANADA, Spain (NNS) -- The U.S. ambassador to Spain and commander, U.S. Naval Activities Spain participated in a celebration Sept. 2 in Jerez del Marquesado, Spain, recognizing the rescuers of a U.S. Navy plane crash from 1960 in the Sierra Nevada.

The incident occurred March 8, 1960 near this small town in Southern Spain. Carrying U.S. service members from Naval Support Activities Naples to Naval Station Rota, the DC-4 "Skymaster" collided with a Sierra Nevada peak and crashed at 7,600 ft. above sea-level on the edge of a cliff in the snow.

The inhabitants of the mountain town quickly went to the aid of the stranded crew and passengers five decades ago. Antonio Lorente, a citizen from Jérez, was one of the first to arrive at the crash site.

"It was worth it," said Lorente, who spent the first night in the plane awaiting assistance. "We did not know what happened, but that it was only necessary to help human beings."

There were no deaths resulting from the plane crash. Many attribute this to the local inhabitants providing their assistance as quickly as possible during a severe blizzard.

"This event shows the extraordinary side of human nature," said U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Alan D. Solomont during his speech. "Without regard to their own lives...they did what had to be done to save lives."

Lt. Deb Neuhaus, Naval Station Rota air terminal officer, located some of the survivors prior to the ceremony months ago to help the city invite them to participate in the ceremony.

"The highlight of attending this trip was to see the survivors interact with their rescuers. It was emotional, and you could feel the mutual respect, understanding, and admiration," said Neuhaus. "The townspeople of Jerez del Marquesado enveloped the survivors with hospitality beyond their wildest imaginations."

Two of the survivors from the plane crash were able to attend: James Frank Zaio, and Francis John Rup. Zaio was a Seaman at the time of the crash and was on-board the plane as a member of the Naples' basketball team. Rupp, known as "Frank," was an Aircraft Maintenance 2nd Class Petty Officer assigned to the VF-102 Diamondbacks, flying from his carrier USS Forrestal (AVT 59) via Naples, to Rota to repair an aircraft.

"Every month or so I remember that fateful day," said Zaio. "I have had a void in my life for not being able to meet the people who saved my life, so this is wonderful to thank all of you for what you did for us."

As part of the nearly week-long celebration, Capt. Bill Mosk, commander, U.S. Naval Activities Spain (COMNAVACTS), gave his remarks Sept. 4 for the opening of a hiking path called "el Sendero Solidario el Avión," in English the "Path of Solidarity to the Aircraft," which saw nearly 200 participants walk the four-hour hike to see the crash site first-hand along the same route rescuers from Jérez used to help the crew and passengers.

"After living in Spain for two years, I think I have a pretty good idea of what motivated them," said Mosk. "A sense of courage, a sense of urgency and finally a sense of duty."