1962 10/11 NV Ted Schuler & William Chevrolet -B17-A

Incident Name: BLM fire in the Stillwater Mountains
Date: 10/11/1962
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: Multiple Management Corp, under contract with Bureau of Land Management
Position: aerial firefighters

Summary:
Ted Schuler, pilot
William Chevrolet, co-pilot

The crash of a 4-engine airtanker, a B-17A called Tanker C-15, fighting a fire in the Stillwater Mountans east of Fallon claimed the lives of Ted Schuler and William Chevrolet. The crash was witnessed by Chuck Desher.

Maps

in the Stillwater Mountains *Mt Lincoln) at about 7,000 feet; 24 miles east of Fallon, NV

(photos of the area from geocaching.com )

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Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned

Concise Information from Tom Janney, AAP and research by the WLF Staff:
- 10/11/1962, Tanker C-15
- 2 killed, Ted Schuler, pilot and William Chevrolet, co-pilot from Long Beach, CA
- Operator: Multiple Management Corp since 1960 (possibly located in Long Beach CA); under contract with BLM
- Type: 4-engine air tanker, BOEING B-17G
- Aircraft history from Tom:
  - B-17G
  - N3678G
  - Tanker C-15
  - 44-8990
  - 44-8990 seems to have spent its military life as a VIP transport, being loaned by President Truman to Winston Churchill during Churchill’s 1946 visit to USA. Surplus to Davis-Monthan in 1956; bought by M. L. Alison in 1959 and registered N3678G. Sold to Clero Enterprises on 1/9/59,
    then to Multiple Management Corp on Nov 7, 1960 and converted to water bomber. Aircraft crashed near Fallon, Nevada Oct 11, 1962.
  - Image link: Photos: Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (299P) Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
- Location: on a fire 24 mi east of Fallon NV
- FAA Registration # N3678G
- NTSB # None
2 Aviators Die in Fallon-area Crash — Agencies to Investigatearticle in the Reno Evening Gazette Oct 12, 1962