Wilmington Plane Crash 30th Anniversary

[Baltimore Jack]

Well, I'm a day late on this, and fully intended to have this up yesterday 10/4/05. I posted this in the "On this day in history…" thread, but it is such a pivotal event in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling history, I wanted to post it here also.

This is the 30th anniversary of the Wilmington plane crash (October 4th, 1975). It ended the wrestling careers of Johnny Valentine and Bob Bruggers. Also on the plane were Ric Flair, Tim Woods, David Crockett. The pilot of the small plane died several weeks after the crash.

It is one of the most infamous events in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling history and forced booker George Scott to make storyline and talent changes that would re-shape the territory from that point forward. There is a page on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway with clippings and some interviews about that tragic event.
The Gateway Remembers: The Wilmington Plane Crash

[bobbyryates]

been on my mind alot this week.

[thegreatbologuy]

It doesn't seem as if it has been thirty years already (must be getting old), but just like the JFK assassination, the Challenger disaster and 9-11, I remember exactly where I was when I heard it on the news that evening (WBTV-Channel 3 in Charlotte broke into regular programming to announce the crash.) My wife and I were having dinner with some friends. The TV was on in the other room, and when I heard the announcement, I jumped up from the table and ran into their den to watch.