The Swing Shift Shuffle is a radio program of swing, big band, jazz, boogie woogie and other popular music from the 1930's and 40's that airs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (US Central Time) on WEVL 89.9 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, with a live webcast at wevl.org. In addition to the radio show, this blog is dedicated to all aspects of the Swing Era, including art, automobiles, cartoons, comics, history, movies, music, news, science, technology, and anything else that happened during that time. It also includes announcements about events in the Memphis/Mid-South area related to the Swing Era, such as classic movies, concerts, dances, lectures, etc. If you see something that fits the description, send it to me at tim@wevl.org. If you would like more information about the radio show, just go to the Radio Show FAQ page.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Earhart's Plane Crashed In Memphis

But Amelia Earhart was not in it.  Ask Vance reveals that, just prior to her fateful flight in 1937, Ms. Earhart replaced her Lockheed Vega with larger aircraft.  In August 1943, her former aircraft crashed at Wilson Field south of Winchester Road in Memphis as the new owner was ferrying it across the country. 
Blurry pictures taken right after the crash (such as the one here) are filed away in the Memphis Room at the main library. 
The wreckage remained visible for years, joining a fleet of other demolished and dismantled aircraft that caught the eye of anyone driving past the cluster of hangars and dirt runways at the northeast corner of Ridgeway and Raines Road.

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