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In Sonya House's neighborhood, just south
of 21st on Piatt street, was Wichita's worst aviation
disaster.
Sonya wants to remember, not the bad memories . . . but all the
people who were lost on January 16, 1965 in the crash of an
Air Force KC-135 tanker plane at 20th and Piatt.
Sonya lived through a nightmare in her house that was just a few
yards from the crash site. She heard and felt, the
airplane crash, she saw the flames! Right over there, it
was 67 steps right over there. As I stepped toward the
door, that's when I saw the fire outside pass my window. Flames
were burning and smoke went way up in the sky. I saw the
fire rolling down the street… just rolling and burning
everything. It seemed like hell. I've never seen hell
before and didn’t know how it would be like. But it looked
to me like everything in the world was on fire and
burning.
Somebody said it was so hot that the fire trucks were burning up.
It was really hot! And if the gas would have splashed this
way toward my home, I wouldn’t be here today.
And that is the problem for Sonya and many others today. God left
me here to tell others about this.
As she aged, Sonya felt
it was time to speak out about the need for a monument.
Working in her church and interacting with others, Sonya
is one of many who hope that Wichita won't forget about
all those who perished on January 16, 1965.
A park was built where the houses once stood. Sonya is hoping for a
monument to the survivors. Children who play in the park
will be able to read the names of all these people who
lost their lives that day. It’s a part of history and they
should know what actually took place right here in
Wichita, Kansas.
My neighbors burned up. Seven Air Force crewmen died. Eight
children and one unborn child died. Also fourteen people,
my neighbors, died. I'll never get to see them again.
That was over 40 years ago and there is still no monument.
Please lend a hand and help us spread the word about this special
need.
Please make a donation so a monument can be built to remember those
who lost their lives on January 16, 1965.
Thank you,
Sonya House
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