This from Eric Haak:
The following images are from the morning of November 24, 1959. TWA flight 595 experienced trouble on take off and attempted to return to Midway Airport. According to the official crash report, the pilot’s actions caused the Super Constellation to “gain an excessive rate of sink” on approach and it slammed into residences around 64th and Knox just after 5:30am (CFD records I have seen have the still time as 0524). The Chicago Fire Department’s response to this incident would eventually be raised to a 5-11. All 3 occupants of the cargo plane and 8 on the ground were killed. Firefighters working the fireground include members wearing helmets from Engines 127, 88, 97, 53, Squads 12 and 3 as well as Trucks 42 and 16. Also, Commissioner Quinn is shown standing amongst the rubble with his driver and a Chief Fire Marshall.
Vintage photo from November 24, 1959 of a crash site near Midway Airport in Chicago of TWA flight 595. Eric Haak collection, photographer unknown
Eric Haak collection
Eric Haak collection
Eric Haak collection
Eric Haak collection
Eric Haak collection
#1 by JBavitz on August 26, 2017 - 7:28 AM
Mike, looking at the boom you mentioned I think it is a boom used by Illinois Bell Telephone trucks. It does appear to be connected to a truck used by IBT at the time. I’m sure IBT also had a fast response to the area. I agree, they are great pics!
#2 by Drew Smith on August 24, 2017 - 6:18 PM
In the photo with Commissioner Quinn there is a helmet from the old Civil Defense/EPDS than had been formed in 1958.
#3 by Mike L on August 24, 2017 - 5:54 PM
Great pics! In the way background of photo 3 is one of the cardox rigs with its boom extended. Also, the last pic shows a “connie” flying over the crash scene. Kind of eerie for the folks on board that flight.