Kern County Obituaries Edward Swindell Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008 This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. Mojave Desert News; 10 Jun 1948 FLYING WING IS WRECKED SUNDAY Described as the fastest and most powerful bomber in the world, the Northrup Flying Wing giant Army YB-49 crashed on Sunday last at a point near Muroc killing all five of its crew. According to Col. Moore the plane, which was on a routine test flight between Muroc and Mojave, had been in the air about one hour but that the crew had not radioed of any trouble. The crash occurred about 10 miles north of the air base in a dry lake near Highway 466 and was witnessed by Dale C. Wilson of Alton, Ill., who told the Kern County Sheriff's office that the plane seemed to explode in mid air then came down and cut a wide swath through the sage brush and greasewood. Victims of the crash were: Maj. Don Forbes, Topeka, Kans. Capt. Glen W. Edwards of Lincoln, Calif. Lt. Edward Swindell, Virginia Beach, Va. C. C. Leser, Joliet, Ill. G. H. Lafountain, Hudson Falls, New York. The plane was one of 15 of a like type five of which have been delivered to Muroc with this being the first crash to occur, and cost the Army $3,000,000 each. NOTE: CADI Daniel High Forbes (article is misspelled) b. 06 Jun 1920 d. 05 Jun 1948, Muroc, Kern, Calif. Glen Walter Edwards b. 05 Mar 1918 d. 05 Jun 1948, Muroc, Kern, Calif. Edward Lee Swindell b. 22 Apr 1916 d. 05 Jun 1948, Muroc, Kern, Calif. Clare C. Leser b. 27 Jun 1925 d. 05 Jun 1948, Muroc, Kern, Calif. Charles H.LaFountain b. 12 Jun 1925, NY d. 05 Jun 1948, Muroc, Kern, Calif.