The ship was headed to Detroit when it struck bad weather as it flew over the area of Caldwell. After the car carrying the nearly 20 crewman fell to the earth, the rest of the wreckage drifted 12 miles. The U.S.S. Shenandoah had been destroyed, taking with it fourteen members of its crew, including its commander, Lt. Cmdr. This year's event will feature someone who undoubtedly has his own personal perspective on the commander. The airmen's grandson, Conway Landsdowne Hunt, will speak on the crash as well as the ship and its crew.
Hunt represents a few of the known relatives of the survivors and victims of the crash.
Rayner said that the event will feature a pictorial cancellation by the Ava Post Office, and small museum will be set up on the property that will house newspaper articles, books and other historical accounts of the fateful event. The Shenandoah High School band also will perform during the commemoration. The Shenandoah Memorial is located just off Ohio 821 in Ava. The last celebration held in honor of the crash was to commemorate the 70th anniversary in 1995. He and his wife, Theresa, began to collect items related to the crash about 15 years ago.