Politics

  • The Modified AC-47 aircraft

    A brief description of the Spooky gunship, the modified AC-47.

  • Improving economy alters political landscape

    Alleged misbehavior by the Internal Revenue Service and other federal agencies gives the GOP something else to talk about and investigate as the economy clearly, if slowly, recovers on President Barack Obama's watch and robs Republicans of a central argument against Democrats.

  • Interactive: The Flight of Spooky 21

    It is unclear exactly what conditions the six-man crew encountered that caused their mission on Dec. 24, 1965, to end in a crash in southeastern Laos. Decades later, a small amount of their physical remains were found. Follow the flight and subsequent search in this interactive map.

  • A long-ago war, a missing plane and an enduring mystery

    Maj. Derrell Jeffords bounced his roaring Spooky 21 down and off the runway at Da Nang Air Base in Vietnam. It was just before 7:30 a.m., on Christmas Eve 1965. The big camouflaged belly of his twin-prop AC-47 was easily visible against a blue sky as he banked west.

    The cargo plane-turned-gunship was on its way to Laos; its mission was top secret.

  • Obama's new wordsmith believes in public service

    President Barack Obama's new chief speechwriter is a 32-year-old fellow Chicagoan who believes in public service.

  • Obama says nation must do more for fallen heroes

    President Barack Obama says the nation must do more than just remember its fallen heroes on Memorial Day.

  • Obama's new wordsmith believes in public service

    When President Barack Obama decided to attend a memorial service in Arizona for victims of a deadly mass shooting that severely injured then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, he needed a speech. And fast.

  • The Crew of Spooky 21

    Select an image to the right for more information on each of Spooky 21's crew members.
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Site of the crew's grave
    Back to map
    Larry C. Thornton
    Munitions
    Age: 33
    Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
    Rank at time of death: Technical sergeant
    Posthumous rank: Chief master sergeant
    Arden K. Hassenger
    Munitions
    Age: 32
    Hometown: Lebanon, Ore.
    Rank at time of death: Staff sergeant
    Posthumous rank: Chief master sergeant
    Dennis L. Eilers
    Co-pilot
    Age: 27
    Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    Rank at time of death: First Lieutenant
    Posthumous rank: Lieutenant colonel
    Derrell B. Jeffords
    Pilot
    Age: 40
    Hometown: Florence, S.C.
    Rank at time of death: Major
    Posthumous rank: Colonel
    William K. Colwell
    Munitions
    Age: 44
    Hometown: Glen Cove, N.Y.
    Rank at time of death: Technical sergeant
    Posthumous rank: Chief master sergeant
    Joseph Christiano
    Navigator
    Age: 43
    Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
    Rank at time of death: Major
    Posthumous rank: Colonel
    Washington,
    D.C.
    Md.
    Va.
  • Whatever cause, Washington state bridge collapse points to bigger problems

    The collapse of an interstate highway bridge in Washington state brings new attention to the limits of the country’s infrastructure, especially older structures that were designed with little room for error and were never intended to carry the number of cars and trucks they see today.

  • Obama OKs honor for Birmingham bombing victims

    President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday to award Congress' highest civilian honor to four girls killed in an Alabama church bombing during the civil rights movement. He called it a tragic loss that "helped to trigger triumph and a more just and equal and fair America."

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