Nearly 70 Years After A Plane Went Missing In Alaska, Searchers Uncovered Important Answers

William Edmond Mize, Jr. was given a challenge few people his age would ever experience. At just 19 years old, he was tasked with piloting an aircraft filled with soldiers. But before the man folks called Eddie could be praised for taking on this top-secret mission, a crucial error brought disaster. And it took nearly 70 years of searching before a helicopter crew discovered a truth that stunned Eddie’s family...

The trip

It had been no small task for the teenager. Eddie had to fly a C-124 Globemaster II cargo plane — as well as a crew of 51 — over the rough and snowy Alaskan terrain. And, unfortunately, the difficulty of this mission became all too real as Eddie attempted to navigate his way through a mountain range.

Tragedy strikes

It looked like the mission was spinning out of control. Then disaster struck. Eddie lost control of the plane, and the craft hit the side of a mountain. From that moment on, it was radio silence from the plane and her passengers. And Eddie’s family could only grieve and wonder what had happened to their beloved brother and son.

Holding out hope

Soon, it became clear that something had gone badly wrong with the mission. No one had heard from the crew or even caught any glimpse of the aircraft. Yet Eddie’s family remained optimistic, hoping that he’d survived the accident. Perhaps he was holed up somewhere in Alaska.

Yearning for an answer

While Eddie’s loved ones were on tenterhooks, the military began to act. The search was on for the missing men and their plane. And while finding the C-124 wasn’t guaranteed to be easy, the authorities would soon establish one important fact about the missing aircraft.