Mystery crash that killed Buddy Holly

Mystery crash that killed Buddy Holly

It will be 50 years ago on February 3rd (1959) that Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper J.P. Richardson died. A small plane took off from Clear Lake, Iowa just after midnight. It was only a twist of fate that the other two joined Buddy on the flight as a toss of a coin settled who would have a seat on the plane that night. The mystery of the crash still goes on today. Investigators ruled that the crash was caused by the weather (there was a snow storm at the time) and also pilot error. A farmer who was clearing the crash site found a gun which belonged to Buddy Holly. There had only been an autopsy of the pilot who’s body was found to have no gun shot wounds etc but the other three stars were buried without one and the powers that be did not want to exhume the bodies of three very famous rock stars. In fact in the later investigation the gun was not even mentioned. So the speculation still goes on did the gun have anything to do with the tragedy.

I remember watching the movie and remembered the toss of the coin, now that IS bad luck, but never have I heard a gun mentioned before, nice find mel

Sounds like a total cover up, famous or not the bodies should have been raised and given a full autopsy

Yes I remember watching a film years ago I think it was the life story of Ritchie Valence. In the newspaper report that I got this from it said they could have been messing around with the gun in the aircraft that night but I guess it one of those mysteries we will never know for sure.

Maybe mags would know if a shot was fired in a plane would it burst through the skin of the actual plane and it cause it to lose control? (air pressure probs etc)

Yes good point Dio we have to ask her. I think it was one of those small aircraft because in the report some other members of Buddy Holly's team were supposed to go but then they did the toss for the seat etc I think it was a 4 passenger aircraft. The thing is I would ask Kev but dont want to sit threw an hour talk on aircraft etc

Just found this link to the story its not from the newspaper I read it in as cant find a link to that at all but this link is better as it gives more information.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/entertainment/main2369529.shtml

As I was only a small one when this happened, I can't give you any insight to the news coverage at the time.
Now as to the bullet, I believe that a bullet passing through the skin of an aircraft like a jumbo jet can cause depressurization, I know or should have to say that I have been told that Sky Marshals carry ammunition that is low velocity so it does not peirce the skin of the fuselage.
However, and I am not sure on this, it depends on what type of aircraft they were flying in. If it was a small four sitter Cesnia, then the plane may not have been pressurized. Like the type you see people being given lessons in, I've had a lesson in one, and you could open a window so that defeats pressurization. (Like Lindenburg's Spirit of St Louis)
If it had been a small jet like the Lear types you see today, they are pressurized.
Sorry not much help.

Interesting about the gun, I had never heard of that before and there has been lots on the tv about Buddy Holly if not the others.

Mags I asked Kev about this last night and he said the same as you

food for thought