Local input provided for History Channel feature on 232 crash
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, January 25, 2008
Rescuers work at Sioux Gateway Airport in July 1989 after the crash of United Flight 232. (Staff photo)
A random search on the Internet resulted in a great resource for a television show on the 1989 crash of United Airlines Flight 232 which airs Jan. 25.
George Lindblade, owner of G.R. Lindblade & Co, received a phone call about a month ago from a producer for the History Channel show "Shockwave" who was "poking around" on the net for information on the crash when he came upon the Sioux City marketing and advertising company.
"When he called and said what he was looking for, I said, 'You hit the jackpot! I have everything you need.'," Lindblade said.
"Shockwave" is a new series the presents some of history's most unbelievable disasters and events that occurred in the past three decades. It also invites viewers to share their thoughts on the discussion boards online.
United Flight 232 was en route on July 19, 1989, from Denver to Chicago when it crashed trying to make an emergency landing at Sioux Gateway Airport. A total of 112 people died, but what has astonished and astounded people is that 184 survived, primarily due to the expertise of the flight crew and the rescue efforts on the ground.
Lindblade said he wasn't surprised by the contact from the television exec.
"We get all kinds of phone calls for 232, because over the years we are essentially the repository for the event," Lindblade said. "We've provided information to at least 20 production companies, including one just recently in France, who used the information for a training video for operators of control towers."
Lindblade offered the use of his studio for an interview with Gary Brown, Woodbury County Disaster and Emergency Services Director.
"I get a lot of contacts about 232," said Brown, who admitted the number was most likely in the thousands. "Everything from students doing research to case study work, so I wasn't surprised when a producer from the History Channel called and said he wanted me to talk about the local response, what's happened since the crash and what changes have been made in emergency procedures."
Brown said much of the interest in the event was the result of its unusual particulars.
"When you look at aviation history, very, very few crashes have a significant number of survivors, especially when you look at a plane crashing, breaking apart, and burning up," he said. "That's what makes the story so remarkable."
Lindblade served as the "lighting guy and set decorator."
"I had all the lighting set up and heard the crew come in, so I walked out to meet them and here was Richard Robbins, a kid who used to work with us that I hadn't seen in 20 years who now has his own studio in Omaha and was part of this because he had access to a super-high definition camera," Lindblade said. "It just goes to show you what a small world it is."
Brown's interview took about two hours and had him seated on a stool, in front of his emergency vehicle.
"No, there was no make-up and I just wore a shirt and slacks I typically wear to work," he said with a laugh. "I probably asked too many questions of the interviewer because I found out she was part of the 'Deadliest Catch' show that I really like."
Brown said he tried to focus on the "true story" of the event, stressing that over 40 communities and 80 pieces of equipment came together that afternoon to transport 196 patients in 48 minutes, "all those people who together and put their heart and soul into helping strangers."
Lindblade provided a "Shockwave" field producer copies of "Alert 3 - The Crash of UA 232," which examined how the community of Sioux City created a system of disaster preparedness and "Lessons to Learn," another video he made 10 years after the crash.
"I knew watching their work that it would be a very different slant on the crash," Lindblade said. "I knew they would be focusing on surviving the crash."
Brown said he was looking forward to seeing the production to see if one aspect of his interview didn't land on the cutting room floor.
"I talked about the legacy of 232 -- the emergency response training facility we're building at WIT (Western Iowa Tech Community College) and why it means so much to build something like this to train not only today's emergency responders, but to build a world-class facility to train generations to come," he said. "Something good has to come out of 112 lives lost and 184 lives changed forever, as well as the emergency responders and this is it."
In addition to Brown's interview and Lindblade's videos, "Shockwave" also features interviews with Capt. Al Haynes, who piloted the aircraft and crash survivor Jerry Schemmel, who has penned a book, "Chosen to Live" on his crash experience. The segment will also illustrate through computer imaging the plane's hydraulic system and its flight pattern approaching Sioux City.
In addition to the 232 crash in the one-hour episode to air this weekend, a magician dangling over a river in a straight jacket is set on fire as the burning platform above him collapses. Then a pilot loses control of his plane when a parachute opens prematurely and the chute snags on the tail of the plane. A high tech crime fighting robot provides pictures of a four-day standoff between a crazed gunman and Kentucky police. Finally the camera captures two contractors, caught in a massive landslide in Portland, Ore.
Care to watch?
What: "Shockwave"
Where: History Channel
When: 8 p.m. CDT on Friday and midnight on Saturday; check local listings for exact dates and times
Who: Interviews with Capt. Al Haynes, Gary Brown, Jerry Schemmel
More: visit the History Channel Web site at www.history.com
George Lindblade, owner of G.R. Lindblade & Co, received a phone call about a month ago from a producer for the History Channel show "Shockwave" who was "poking around" on the net for information on the crash when he came upon the Sioux City marketing and advertising company.
"When he called and said what he was looking for, I said, 'You hit the jackpot! I have everything you need.'," Lindblade said.
"Shockwave" is a new series the presents some of history's most unbelievable disasters and events that occurred in the past three decades. It also invites viewers to share their thoughts on the discussion boards online.
United Flight 232 was en route on July 19, 1989, from Denver to Chicago when it crashed trying to make an emergency landing at Sioux Gateway Airport. A total of 112 people died, but what has astonished and astounded people is that 184 survived, primarily due to the expertise of the flight crew and the rescue efforts on the ground.
Lindblade said he wasn't surprised by the contact from the television exec.
"We get all kinds of phone calls for 232, because over the years we are essentially the repository for the event," Lindblade said. "We've provided information to at least 20 production companies, including one just recently in France, who used the information for a training video for operators of control towers."
Lindblade offered the use of his studio for an interview with Gary Brown, Woodbury County Disaster and Emergency Services Director.
"I get a lot of contacts about 232," said Brown, who admitted the number was most likely in the thousands. "Everything from students doing research to case study work, so I wasn't surprised when a producer from the History Channel called and said he wanted me to talk about the local response, what's happened since the crash and what changes have been made in emergency procedures."
Brown said much of the interest in the event was the result of its unusual particulars.
"When you look at aviation history, very, very few crashes have a significant number of survivors, especially when you look at a plane crashing, breaking apart, and burning up," he said. "That's what makes the story so remarkable."
Lindblade served as the "lighting guy and set decorator."
"I had all the lighting set up and heard the crew come in, so I walked out to meet them and here was Richard Robbins, a kid who used to work with us that I hadn't seen in 20 years who now has his own studio in Omaha and was part of this because he had access to a super-high definition camera," Lindblade said. "It just goes to show you what a small world it is."
Brown's interview took about two hours and had him seated on a stool, in front of his emergency vehicle.
"No, there was no make-up and I just wore a shirt and slacks I typically wear to work," he said with a laugh. "I probably asked too many questions of the interviewer because I found out she was part of the 'Deadliest Catch' show that I really like."
Brown said he tried to focus on the "true story" of the event, stressing that over 40 communities and 80 pieces of equipment came together that afternoon to transport 196 patients in 48 minutes, "all those people who together and put their heart and soul into helping strangers."
Lindblade provided a "Shockwave" field producer copies of "Alert 3 - The Crash of UA 232," which examined how the community of Sioux City created a system of disaster preparedness and "Lessons to Learn," another video he made 10 years after the crash.
"I knew watching their work that it would be a very different slant on the crash," Lindblade said. "I knew they would be focusing on surviving the crash."
Brown said he was looking forward to seeing the production to see if one aspect of his interview didn't land on the cutting room floor.
"I talked about the legacy of 232 -- the emergency response training facility we're building at WIT (Western Iowa Tech Community College) and why it means so much to build something like this to train not only today's emergency responders, but to build a world-class facility to train generations to come," he said. "Something good has to come out of 112 lives lost and 184 lives changed forever, as well as the emergency responders and this is it."
In addition to Brown's interview and Lindblade's videos, "Shockwave" also features interviews with Capt. Al Haynes, who piloted the aircraft and crash survivor Jerry Schemmel, who has penned a book, "Chosen to Live" on his crash experience. The segment will also illustrate through computer imaging the plane's hydraulic system and its flight pattern approaching Sioux City.
In addition to the 232 crash in the one-hour episode to air this weekend, a magician dangling over a river in a straight jacket is set on fire as the burning platform above him collapses. Then a pilot loses control of his plane when a parachute opens prematurely and the chute snags on the tail of the plane. A high tech crime fighting robot provides pictures of a four-day standoff between a crazed gunman and Kentucky police. Finally the camera captures two contractors, caught in a massive landslide in Portland, Ore.
Care to watch?
What: "Shockwave"
Where: History Channel
When: 8 p.m. CDT on Friday and midnight on Saturday; check local listings for exact dates and times
Who: Interviews with Capt. Al Haynes, Gary Brown, Jerry Schemmel
More: visit the History Channel Web site at www.history.com
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staff photographer wrote on Jun 15, 2008 6:13 AM:
From a "staff photographer" who you think goes out of his way to "get pats on the back", when truth be known, the only time I bring up a certain photo is when someone calls me about it...
Get a Life!!! "
Godlove Mancho wrote on Feb 16, 2008 11:01 PM:
SCIAgal wrote on Jan 25, 2008 8:14 AM:
Shockwave : 07 - Shockwave
Airs on Friday January 25 09:00 PM
Watch as a magician dangling over a river in a straight jacket is set on fire as the burning platform above him collapses. See footage of the infamous Sioux City plane crash and listen to an interview with the pilot who was highly decorated for his heroism on that terrible day. Then a pilot loses control of his plane when a parachute opens prematurely and the chute snags on the tail of the plane. Next, a high tech crime fighting robot provides pictures of a four day standoff between a crazed gunman and Kentucky police. Finally the camera is rolling as two contractors are caught in a massive landslide in Portland, Oregon.
"
Observer wrote on Jan 25, 2008 7:31 AM: