Tragically, Carol and her mother, Vivian, were victims of the crash of the Linee Aeree Italiane, LAI Flight 451 (route: Rome, Paris, Shannon, Gander, NYC) that crashed on takeoff from Paris Orly on Nov 24, 1956. The four-engine Douglas DC-6B - the newest in the LAI fleet, in service just since November 5th - never gained altitude, and clipped the roof of one house and crashed into another in Paray-Vieille-Poste, about 1.8 miles south of the the airport and just 600 feet past the end of the runway. It had made only 3 previous transatlantic crossings and had no prior record of any mechanical problems. The cause of the crash was undetermined, however, the plane took off in the first snow of the year. The temperature was noted to be -2C with misting, snowy conditions and 2km visibility (sure sounds like ideal conditions for, and symptoms of wing icing). Frost was on the ground. The airliner - the newest in the LAI fleet, whose maiden flight was Nov 5th - had made only 3 previous transatlantic crossings and had no prior record of mechanical problems. A year later, LAI merged with Alitalia.
Of the 35 aboard there was only one survivor, Mrs. Concetta Finamore, who is listed as the sole survivor on the Wikipedia page of "flights with a sole survivor," however, no crash location is listed, which is why I started researching this flight and came across the news account of the death of the Sheetz. Concetta and her husband Nicodemo were newlywed airline employees stationed in Shannon who were returning to Shannon from their honeymoon. Both were thrown clear of the plane, but were severely burned . (He briefly survived, before succumbing, hence some early reports state there were 2 survivors).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sole_survivors_of_aviation_accidents_and_incidents
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volo_Linee_Aeree_Italiane_451
[In Italian - rt click to translate]
Also killed in the crash was a young, renowned, Italian conductor, and protégé of Arturo Toscanini, Guido Cantelli, who had been named musical director at La Scala (Milano) just a week prior to the disaster. He was en route to NYC to conduct a concert series.
According to news accounts, Carol Sheetz and her mother were on a world tour of Methodist Church leaders, and when the tour ended in Italy, she and her mother remained in Italy and toured Rome, Venice and other sites before catching the ill-fated flight back, which had a layover at Paris Orly Airport for refueling and to pick up more passengers.
While living in St. Petersburg, FL, she attended school at Mt. Vernon School. At the time of her death she was a Junior at Watseka Community High School (aka Watseka High School), where she was in Drivers Ed, the Dramatic Club, the Library Club and the Junior & Senior Girls Choir during her Junior year. (see photos).
Rest in Peace...
Researched & Written by Linda (Contributor#: 48291572)
Of the 35 aboard there was only one survivor, Mrs. Concetta Finamore, who is listed as the sole survivor on the Wikipedia page of "flights with a sole survivor," however, no crash location is listed, which is why I started researching this flight and came across the news account of the death of the Sheetz. Concetta and her husband Nicodemo were newlywed airline employees stationed in Shannon who were returning to Shannon from their honeymoon. Both were thrown clear of the plane, but were severely burned . (He briefly survived, before succumbing, hence some early reports state there were 2 survivors).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sole_survivors_of_aviation_accidents_and_incidents
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volo_Linee_Aeree_Italiane_451
[In Italian - rt click to translate]
Also killed in the crash was a young, renowned, Italian conductor, and protégé of Arturo Toscanini, Guido Cantelli, who had been named musical director at La Scala (Milano) just a week prior to the disaster. He was en route to NYC to conduct a concert series.
According to news accounts, Carol Sheetz and her mother were on a world tour of Methodist Church leaders, and when the tour ended in Italy, she and her mother remained in Italy and toured Rome, Venice and other sites before catching the ill-fated flight back, which had a layover at Paris Orly Airport for refueling and to pick up more passengers.
While living in St. Petersburg, FL, she attended school at Mt. Vernon School. At the time of her death she was a Junior at Watseka Community High School (aka Watseka High School), where she was in Drivers Ed, the Dramatic Club, the Library Club and the Junior & Senior Girls Choir during her Junior year. (see photos).
Rest in Peace...
Researched & Written by Linda (Contributor#: 48291572)
Tragically, Carol and her mother, Vivian, were victims of the crash of the Linee Aeree Italiane, LAI Flight 451 (route: Rome, Paris, Shannon, Gander, NYC) that crashed on takeoff from Paris Orly on Nov 24, 1956. The four-engine Douglas DC-6B - the newest in the LAI fleet, in service just since November 5th - never gained altitude, and clipped the roof of one house and crashed into another in Paray-Vieille-Poste, about 1.8 miles south of the the airport and just 600 feet past the end of the runway. It had made only 3 previous transatlantic crossings and had no prior record of any mechanical problems. The cause of the crash was undetermined, however, the plane took off in the first snow of the year. The temperature was noted to be -2C with misting, snowy conditions and 2km visibility (sure sounds like ideal conditions for, and symptoms of wing icing). Frost was on the ground. The airliner - the newest in the LAI fleet, whose maiden flight was Nov 5th - had made only 3 previous transatlantic crossings and had no prior record of mechanical problems. A year later, LAI merged with Alitalia.
Of the 35 aboard there was only one survivor, Mrs. Concetta Finamore, who is listed as the sole survivor on the Wikipedia page of "flights with a sole survivor," however, no crash location is listed, which is why I started researching this flight and came across the news account of the death of the Sheetz. Concetta and her husband Nicodemo were newlywed airline employees stationed in Shannon who were returning to Shannon from their honeymoon. Both were thrown clear of the plane, but were severely burned . (He briefly survived, before succumbing, hence some early reports state there were 2 survivors).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sole_survivors_of_aviation_accidents_and_incidents
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volo_Linee_Aeree_Italiane_451
[In Italian - rt click to translate]
Also killed in the crash was a young, renowned, Italian conductor, and protégé of Arturo Toscanini, Guido Cantelli, who had been named musical director at La Scala (Milano) just a week prior to the disaster. He was en route to NYC to conduct a concert series.
According to news accounts, Carol Sheetz and her mother were on a world tour of Methodist Church leaders, and when the tour ended in Italy, she and her mother remained in Italy and toured Rome, Venice and other sites before catching the ill-fated flight back, which had a layover at Paris Orly Airport for refueling and to pick up more passengers.
While living in St. Petersburg, FL, she attended school at Mt. Vernon School. At the time of her death she was a Junior at Watseka Community High School (aka Watseka High School), where she was in Drivers Ed, the Dramatic Club, the Library Club and the Junior & Senior Girls Choir during her Junior year. (see photos).
Rest in Peace...
Researched & Written by Linda (Contributor#: 48291572)
Of the 35 aboard there was only one survivor, Mrs. Concetta Finamore, who is listed as the sole survivor on the Wikipedia page of "flights with a sole survivor," however, no crash location is listed, which is why I started researching this flight and came across the news account of the death of the Sheetz. Concetta and her husband Nicodemo were newlywed airline employees stationed in Shannon who were returning to Shannon from their honeymoon. Both were thrown clear of the plane, but were severely burned . (He briefly survived, before succumbing, hence some early reports state there were 2 survivors).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sole_survivors_of_aviation_accidents_and_incidents
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volo_Linee_Aeree_Italiane_451
[In Italian - rt click to translate]
Also killed in the crash was a young, renowned, Italian conductor, and protégé of Arturo Toscanini, Guido Cantelli, who had been named musical director at La Scala (Milano) just a week prior to the disaster. He was en route to NYC to conduct a concert series.
According to news accounts, Carol Sheetz and her mother were on a world tour of Methodist Church leaders, and when the tour ended in Italy, she and her mother remained in Italy and toured Rome, Venice and other sites before catching the ill-fated flight back, which had a layover at Paris Orly Airport for refueling and to pick up more passengers.
While living in St. Petersburg, FL, she attended school at Mt. Vernon School. At the time of her death she was a Junior at Watseka Community High School (aka Watseka High School), where she was in Drivers Ed, the Dramatic Club, the Library Club and the Junior & Senior Girls Choir during her Junior year. (see photos).
Rest in Peace...
Researched & Written by Linda (Contributor#: 48291572)
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