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Woman writes book about 1975 plane crash that claimed three lives
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Jean Nunn flips through scrapbooks about a 1975 plane crash that took the lives of her husband Dave and two of his students, Jim Pryor and Matt Perkins. |
April 12, 2007
An account of a family tragedy which became a journey of faith has been published as a book titled “We Fly Away.”
Jean Nunn, 73, originally wrote what became the basic outline of the story for her four daughters, following the loss of their husband and father, Dave Nunn - a loss which went unconfirmed for more than seven years.
The book recounts the events leading up to the disappearance of the private plane in which Nunn, a pilot, and two Klamath Union High School students disappeared Feb. 26, 1975, on a return trip to Klamath Falls from Salem. She describes the subsequent search, as well as her spiritual struggles through the years, in the book.
“It's been 32 years, but it's still as clear as yesterday,” Nunn said. “I knew the minute he hit the ground.”
She had driven Dave and her daughter and grandchild to the airport, where Dave was to fly them back to their home in Salem. The two boys, flying students, Jim Pryor and Matt Perkins, both 17, accompanied them for the chance to learn more about flying.
They planned to return by 10 p.m.
Nunn said she couldn't account for some of the time after dropping them off, but arrived home feeling chilled, and she went to bed under a warm electric blanket.
A premonition
“I woke up at 9:30 p.m. with the sensation of a hand on my leg. I looked at the clock. I knew. I called the airport and told them the plane had gone down at 9:20 p.m. and he had died at 9:30 p.m. They confirmed they had lost the plane off the radar at 9:20 at 11,000 feet. They wanted me to go with the search planes, but I didn't.”
The plane had disappeared from radar near Crater Lake National Park. It was found seven years later at the base of a tree in a heavily forested area on the north side of Huckleberry Mountain north of Union Creek.
Nunn said she had a premonition for two weeks before the plane went missing that something was going to happen to someone in the family, but she didn't know it would be her husband.
About Dave Nunn
Dave Nunn, 45, had been retired from the Air Force for about two years and had become a teacher's aide in the shop department at Klamath Union High School.
Gordon Hart, retired shop teacher from the school, also was a pallbearer at Nunn's funeral.
“I hired Dave,” said Hart. “He was well-liked by the kids. He had a sense of humor. He would play the bagpipes at noon, and they got a kick out of that.”
Nunn took flying lessons on the G.I. bill at Southern Oregon Aviation after the Air Force and became a flight instructor. He had just earned his instrument rating, which he was anxious to practice on this flight.
He, like Jean, had been very close to their church, Klamath Assembly of God.
Picking up the pieces
“I kept a journal and that became the basis of the book,” Nunn said. “It was mostly written before the plane was found.”
After the search ended without success, Nunn had to face the reality of providing for their four daughters. She had Dave declared dead so she could get Social Security for their two unmarried daughters who were still at home. Some people did not understand.
“I was accused of wanting to get rid of him. We never missed a payment, though, even our pledge to the church for missions.”
When the plane was found on the north side of Huckleberry Mountain July 5, 1982, Dave was identified by a wallet. Nunn has a scrapbook of the clippings about the search and items which were still in that wallet - tattered paper money, a military identification card, a motorcycle registration, a picture of one of his daughters, and a folded piece of paper with his handwriting on it.
On the paper he had written “Lose not thine airspeed lest the ground rise up and smite thee.”
“He always carried that with him, just to remind him,” Nunn said.
Nunn left Klamath Falls a year later, and returned about a year ago. She had visited several times before deciding to move back.
“There were so many memories.”
“I turned it over to God. It's been like giving birth for 32 years. Anybody who is spiritual and believes in God will enjoy the book. If you're not, or you don't believe, it would be hard to understand,” Nunn said about self-publishing the book.
She realizes all the families suffered, and she hopes this book will be some comfort.
- Lee Beach
An account of a family tragedy which became a journey of faith has been published as a book titled “We Fly Away.”
Jean Nunn, 73, originally wrote what became the basic outline of the story for her four daughters, following the loss of their husband and father, Dave Nunn - a loss which went unconfirmed for more than seven years.
The book recounts the events leading up to the disappearance of the private plane in which Nunn, a pilot, and two Klamath Union High School students disappeared Feb. 26, 1975, on a return trip to Klamath Falls from Salem. She describes the subsequent search, as well as her spiritual struggles through the years, in the book.
“It's been 32 years, but it's still as clear as yesterday,” Nunn said. “I knew the minute he hit the ground.”
She had driven Dave and her daughter and grandchild to the airport, where Dave was to fly them back to their home in Salem. The two boys, flying students, Jim Pryor and Matt Perkins, both 17, accompanied them for the chance to learn more about flying.
They planned to return by 10 p.m.
Nunn said she couldn't account for some of the time after dropping them off, but arrived home feeling chilled, and she went to bed under a warm electric blanket.
A premonition
“I woke up at 9:30 p.m. with the sensation of a hand on my leg. I looked at the clock. I knew. I called the airport and told them the plane had gone down at 9:20 p.m. and he had died at 9:30 p.m. They confirmed they had lost the plane off the radar at 9:20 at 11,000 feet. They wanted me to go with the search planes, but I didn't.”
The plane had disappeared from radar near Crater Lake National Park. It was found seven years later at the base of a tree in a heavily forested area on the north side of Huckleberry Mountain north of Union Creek.
Nunn said she had a premonition for two weeks before the plane went missing that something was going to happen to someone in the family, but she didn't know it would be her husband.
About Dave Nunn
Dave Nunn, 45, had been retired from the Air Force for about two years and had become a teacher's aide in the shop department at Klamath Union High School.
Gordon Hart, retired shop teacher from the school, also was a pallbearer at Nunn's funeral.
“I hired Dave,” said Hart. “He was well-liked by the kids. He had a sense of humor. He would play the bagpipes at noon, and they got a kick out of that.”
Nunn took flying lessons on the G.I. bill at Southern Oregon Aviation after the Air Force and became a flight instructor. He had just earned his instrument rating, which he was anxious to practice on this flight.
He, like Jean, had been very close to their church, Klamath Assembly of God.
Picking up the pieces
“I kept a journal and that became the basis of the book,” Nunn said. “It was mostly written before the plane was found.”
After the search ended without success, Nunn had to face the reality of providing for their four daughters. She had Dave declared dead so she could get Social Security for their two unmarried daughters who were still at home. Some people did not understand.
“I was accused of wanting to get rid of him. We never missed a payment, though, even our pledge to the church for missions.”
When the plane was found on the north side of Huckleberry Mountain July 5, 1982, Dave was identified by a wallet. Nunn has a scrapbook of the clippings about the search and items which were still in that wallet - tattered paper money, a military identification card, a motorcycle registration, a picture of one of his daughters, and a folded piece of paper with his handwriting on it.
On the paper he had written “Lose not thine airspeed lest the ground rise up and smite thee.”
“He always carried that with him, just to remind him,” Nunn said.
Nunn left Klamath Falls a year later, and returned about a year ago. She had visited several times before deciding to move back.
“There were so many memories.”
“I turned it over to God. It's been like giving birth for 32 years. Anybody who is spiritual and believes in God will enjoy the book. If you're not, or you don't believe, it would be hard to understand,” Nunn said about self-publishing the book.
She realizes all the families suffered, and she hopes this book will be some comfort.
- Lee Beach
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| Herald and News update: | Father remembers search for missing plane |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
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Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "