Goggans, William Gary Jr.

1929 - 1970  (41 years)

• Name	Goggans, William Gary
  Suffix	Jr.
  Born	21 May 1929	Chatham County, Georgia, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	26 Aug 1970	Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, USA
  Buried	Gravel Hill Cemetery - Bloomingdale, Chatham County, Georgia, USA
  	Findagrave.com Memorial #60926637
  Person ID	I6823	Coursey-Sansing Tree
  Last Modified	17 Nov 2020

  
  

  Father	Goggans, William Gary Sr.,   b. 22 May 1895, Pooler, Chatham County, Georgia, USA ,   d. 26 Dec 1982, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA  (Age 87 years)
  Mother	Oliver, Iola,   b. 7 Aug 1897, Chatham County, Georgia, USA ,   d. 16 Jul 1968, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA  (Age 70 years)
  Family ID	F2850	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Janet I
  Children	1. Goggans, Alison   2. Goggans, Julie   3. Goggans, Mark
  Last Modified	17 Nov 2020
  Family ID	F2851	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  BU   Air Guard Plane Missing; 7 Aboard 3 From Chatham Among Crewmen An Air National Guard transport aircraft fro Savannah with seven men aboard was reported missing yesterday on a flight from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., to Cold Bay, Alaska. Three of the six members identified by the Air Force are from Chatham County. A spokesman at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. headquarters for the U.S. Air Force Military Airlift Command, said identification of the seventh member was awaiting notification of next of kin. Identified Those identified as being aboard the missing aircraft are: Maj. William G. Goggans, Jr. Savannah, aircraft commander. M. Sgt. Wesley E. Vaughn, Garden City, Sgt. Carlton L. Cohen, Pooler, flight engineer. 2nd Lt. Bobby L. Bowen, Atlanta, co-pilot. Maj. Paul R. Jones, Haines City, Fla., navigator. S.Sgt. Thomas L. Fogle, Aiken, S.C. loadmaster. All are assigned to the 165th Military Aircraft Group, which is part of the 116th Air National Guard Wing. The rescue Coordination Center at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, said the plane was expected at Cold Bay about 10 p.m. Wednesday, but failed to arrive. The plane was an estimated 90 miles east of its Aleutian Island destination when it was last contacted by radio, the spokesman said. A C124 rescue aircraft from Elmendorf and Navy p3 from Adak, Alaska, were searching the area. The Coast Guard Cutter Balsam was en route,as was an H130 Hercules rescue plane from Elmendorf and an HH3 helicopter from King Salmon, Alaska. The Air Force spokesman said the missing Globemaster was flying from McChord Air Force Base on the last leg of its journey. Hercules rescue plane from Elmendorf was equipped with electronic gear able to detect a plan in the water, and had two "para-rescue" men on board. The missing plane was on a routine cargo-carrying mission on assignment to the Military Airlift Command. The plane was carrying eight tons of satellite observation equipment for use as an optical satellite observing system with the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Service. Savannah News- Press August 28, 1970. ********************************************************** THESE MEN WOULD WANT US TO BE STRONG Four local Air National Guardsmen, who were killed Aug 28 in an airplane crash in the Aleution Islands, were eulogized yesterday as "brave soldiers who stood firm in the belief that their country" and their mission were important. The local victims of the crash – Maj. William G. Goggans, Jr., M. Sgt. Carl J. Worrell, M. Sgt. Wesley E, B. Vaughan and T. Sgt. Charlton L. Cohen – were eulogized in a memorial service at Calvary Baptist Temple. Several hundred attended. Cargo Mission The Chatham countians and the three other members of their C-124-Globmaster crew from the 165th Military Airlift Group here were killed when their Air National Guard plan crashed on a routine cargo-carrying mission which originated from Travis Field. The non-Savannahians killed in the crash were 2nd Lt. Bobby L. Bowen of Atlanta, Maj. Paul R. Jones of Haines City, Fla. And S. Sgt. Thomas L. Fogle of Aiken,S,.C. The bodies of the victims have not been recovered. The crash occurred at an active volcano site near Cold Bay, Alaska, where the plane had been scheduled to land.. Capt Thomas E. Crawford, Chaplain of the 165th Military Group, told the victims' families and friends attending the memorial services that "these men would want us to be strong and have faith in God. They wouldn't want you to be resentful for what has happened." Guardsmen Eulogized at Service Noting the size of the crowd at the service, he told the families that they should take comfort in the fact that "there was a packed house here sharing with you their sympathy." "I am sure that you and I will appreciate this for years to come," the chaplain added in his remarks to the families. The solemn, quiet service lasted about 30 minutes. It ended with Capt Crawford presenting American flags to each of the families. Throughout the ceremony, a color guard from the 165th Military Group stood at rigid attention. Many Air National Guard officers and enlisted men were among the mourners. Attempts Postponed Meanwhile yesterday, it was reported that attempts Friday to recover the bodies had to be postponed because of bad weather in the crash-site area. The Alaska Army command said no decision has been reached on whether to wait for good weather for the recovery or attempt to approach the mountain location on foot. A six-man equipment crew was reported poised to leave from Cold Bay, as soon as the weather moderates. The plane had been on a flight from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. To Cold Bay when it crashed. The wreckage wasn't sighted until several days after the tragedy. Savannah Morning News-Press, Sunday September 6, 1970. *********************************************************** Plane's Wreck Found Chatham Four Believed Lost. The wreckage of tan Air National Guard Globemaster from Savannah with four Chatham Countains aboard missing since Wednesday was found yesterday on the side of Mt. Pavlov, about 35 miles northeast of the aircraft's Aleutian Islands destination. An Air Force spokesman said there was no sign of life. The wreckage was sighted on an extremely steep snow-covered razorback ridge. Rescue crews flew to the scene but were unable to land. Left Monday The plane left Travis Field last Monday on its ill-fated voyage. It disappeared on a flight from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., to Cold Bay with a cargo for the Military Airlift Command and satellite observation equipment. Savannah area men listed as part of the crew were: ~ Maj. William G. Goggans of 1512 Rosewood Drive, Savannah, the pilot and a veteran flier. ~ T.Sgt. Charlton L. Cohen, 43, of 21 Georgia Ave. in Pooler, flight engineer. ~ M.Sgt. Wesley E. Vaughan, 50, of 45-B Chatham City in Garden City, flight engineer. ~ M.Sgt. Carl J. Worrell of 90 Smith Ave, in Garden City, aircraft mechanic. Also listed aboard the four engine cargo plane were 2nd Lt. Bobby R. Bowen of Atlanta, the co-pilot; Maj. Paul R. Jones of Haines City, Fla., the navigator, and S.Sgt. Thomas L. Fogle of Aiken, S.C. The C124Globemaster is part of the 165th Military Airlift Group f Savannah, which is pared with the 116th Military Airlift Wing with headquarters at Dobbins Air Force Base near Marietta. Search Hampered The search for the plane had been hampered by poor weather conditions. The wreckage was found by a crew of an Air Force air rescue plane from Pease AFB, N.H. Helicopter crews from the Coast Guard cutter Confidence and Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, flew to the scene of the wreckage on the slopes of the 8,200 food volcano but were unable to land an Air Force spokesman said. Plane Wreck Discovered The Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force had participated in a massive search for the missing plane. The plane was on a routine mission. It was carrying eight tons of satellite observation equipment for an optical satellite observation system operated by the U. S. Coast, and Geodetic Survey at Cold Bay. Col. William Kelly, commander of the Air National Guard at Travis Field, said; " a briefing of air crew members who took part in the search and photographs taken at the scene are being studied by a mountain rescue team from Ft. Richardson, Alaska, and photo interpreters to determine whether or not they will be able to reach the crash scene." "As soon as other information is received from the Alaskan Air Commander, the Air National Guard will furnish additional information." Kelly said. Kelly said the statement on the latest development in the search was from the Alaskan Air Command and the U. S. Air Force. (NEED DATE ON THIS ONE)----------------- Team to Study Chances of Reaching Site of Crash A mountain rescue team has been authorized to make an on-site investigation of the feasibility of a recovery mission for a Savannah-based Globemaster that crashed at the Aleutian Islands. Col. William Kelly, commander of the Travis Field Air National Guard said the Alaska Air Command has approved the investigation by a mountain rescue team from Ft. Richardson, Alaska. Wreckage of the plane which had four Chatham Countians aboard was discovered Sunday on the side of Mr. Pavlov in the Aleutian Islands. The four engine aircraft was on a routine flight Wednesday from McChord Air Force Base Washington to Cold Bay Alaska when it disappeared 35 miles from its destination. "Vertical Terrain" Kelly said the Alaska Air command reported the mountain almost "vertical terrain" with high winds and unstable snow conditions. The command said that all investigations indicate it was a "no-survival crash." Listed aboard the plane were Maj. William G. Goggans of Savannah, T.Sgt. Charlton L Cohen of Pooler, M. Sgt. Wesley E. Vaughan and M.Sgt. Carl J. Worrell, both of Garden City, second Lt. Bobby R. Bowen of Atlanta, Maj. Paul R. Jones of Haines City, Fla. and S. Sgt. Thomas L. Fogle of Aiken, S. C. MEMORIAL SERVICES TODAY FOR VICTIMS OF PLANE CRASH Memorial services for the four Chatham County residents who were killed August 26th in the crash of an Air National Guard C124 Globemaster Aircraft in the Aleution Islands will be held at 4 p.m. today. The services for Major William G. Goggans Jr., M.Sgt Carl J. Worrell, M. Sgt Wesley E. Vaughn, and T.Sgt Charlton L. Cohen will be conducted at Calvary Baptist Temple at 4625 Waters Ave. by Captain Thomas E. Crawford, Chaplain of the 165th Military Airlift Group of the Georgia Air National Guard. Maj. Goggans A native of Pooler, Major William G. Goggans, Jr. was a graduate of the University of Georgia. He first enlisted in the military service in 1952, as a second lieutenant and has served since that date. Major Goggans was employed by the air technician detachment at Savannah Municipal Airport as flying training instructor. His military assignment was with the 158th Military Airlift Squadron as chief of standardization. He was a member of the Isle of Hope United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife, Janet I. Goggans; two aughters, Alison and Julie Goggans; a son, Mark Goggans, all of Savannah; and his father, William G. Goggans, Sr. of Pooler. The family requests that remembrances be sent to the American Cancer Society. Savannah News, September 5, 1970.