Archie R. Twitchell

Archie Raymond Twitchell (November 28, 1906 January 31, 1957) was a pilot for over three decades between the 1920s and the 1950s. He also had a second profession as a movie actor. He was a captain in the US Army Air Force. He was killed in the 1957 Pacoima mid-air collision.

Archie Twitchell
Twitchell in The Missing Corpse (1945)
Born
Archie Raymond Twitchell

(1906-11-28)November 28, 1906
DiedJanuary 31, 1957(1957-01-31) (aged 50)
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Other namesMichael Branden
Occupations
  • Pilot
  • actor
Years active19371955

Background

Twitchell was born in Pendleton, Oregon on November 28, 1906. He made his first solo flight in 1923. Two years later, he began an acting career that took him through over 100 movies and television shows. His six-foot, one-inch stature with his grey eyes and brown hair suited the camera.[1] He was sometimes billed as Michael Brandan/Brandon/Branden.[2]

Between pictures he flew. In 1936 he toured air shows across the country and in 1942 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force. During the war he tested fighter planes in North Africa and flew transports. In 1951 he went to Israel and tested planes for the Israeli air force. Since February 1955 he had been a production test pilot for the Douglas Aircraft Co.[3]

Crash

On January 31, 1957, Twitchell was co-pilot on a test flight of a new Douglas DC-7B over Southern California. The four crew failed to see a Northrop F-89 Scorpion, also on a test flight, in time to avoid a mid-air collision. The fighter, coming out of 90-degree turn, struck the DC-7B almost head-on at 1118 hrs., ~1–2 miles NE of the Hansen Dam spillway, severing ~8 1/2 feet of the transport's port wing outboard of station 613. The DC-7B continued on a westward heading for about 4 miles before coming down. The aircraft broke up, 500 feet (150 m)1,000 feet (300 m) above the ground, and seconds later the wreckage impacted in the courtyard of the Pacoima Congregational Church near the corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Terra Bella Street, near Sunland, California, killing all four crew. The CAB accident report states that "At 1118 activity in the Douglas radio room was interrupted by an emergency transmission from N 8210H. The voices were recognized by radio personnel familiar with the crew members. Pilot Cart first transmitted, 'Uncontrollable,' Copilot Twitchell then said, 'We're a midair collision – midair collision, 10 How (aircraft identification using phonetic How for H) we are going in – uncontrollable – uncontrollable – we are ... we've had it boy – poor jet too – told you we should take chutes – say goodbye to everybody.' Radio Operator Nakazawas voice was recognized and he concluded the tragic message with, 'We are spinning in the valley.' This final transmission from the flight is presented because it contained important information relative to the accident investigation. It not only establishes the midair collision but also indicates the DC-7 was rendered uncontrollable. It further indicates that Mr. Twitchell at least recognized the aircraft with which they collided as a jet. Further, the DC-7 spun during its descent to the ground."[4] Airliner impacted across the street from Pacoima Junior High School – debris killed three students and injured some 74 others.

Burial

Twitchell is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery, North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California.[5]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1937Sophie Lang Goes WestClerk
1937This Way PleaseSoldierUncredited
1937Partners in CrimePhotographer
1937Hold 'Em NavyJerry Abbott
1937Daughter of ShanghaiSecretaryUncredited
1937Wells FargoMan with PaperUncredited
1938The BuccaneerParty GuestUncredited
1938The Big Broadcast of 1938StewardUncredited
1938Scandal StreetPhotographerUncredited
1938Her Jungle LoveRoy Atkins
1938Tip-Off GirlsHensler
1938Cocoanut GroveRadio Station TechnicianUncredited
1938You and MeSalesmanUncredited
1938Prison FarmTelegraph OperatorUncredited
1938Men with WingsNelsonUncredited
1938The TexansCpl. ThompsonUncredited
1938Give Me a SailorBusinessman #3Uncredited
1938Spawn of the NorthFishermanUncredited
1938Illegal TrafficDuke
1938Say It in FrenchElevator OperatorUncredited
1938Ride a Crooked MileByrd
1939DisbarredJurorUncredited
1939AmbushBank Teller
1939St. Louis BluesCameramanUncredited
1939Persons in HidingCo-PilotUncredited
1939King of ChinatownHospital Interne
1939Street of Missing MenReporter on DockUncredited
1939The Lady's from KentuckyRadio AnnouncerUncredited
1939Union PacificSecretaryUncredited
1939Mickey the KidShelby, the Bus Driver
1939Flight at MidnightUncredited
1939Calling All MarinesRanger Radio DispatcherUncredited
1939The Arizona KidLieutenant FoxUncredited
1939Television SpyJim Winton
1939GeronimoGeneral's OrderlyUncredited
1940Wolf of New YorkCopUncredited
1940Granny Get Your GunJoe
1940Buck Benny Rides AgainMac - AttendantUncredited
1940Manhattan HeartbeatPilotUncredited
1940I Want a DivorceBill - HusbandUncredited
1940Dr. Kildare Goes HomeBates
1940Charlie Chan at the Wax MuseumCarter Lane
1940Barnyard FolliesUncredited
1940Young Bill HickokPhillip
1940North West Mounted PoliceMountieUncredited
1940Mysterious Doctor SatanRossSerial
1940Behind the NewsReporter
1941I Wanted WingsLt. Clarkton
1941Mr. District AttorneyMotorcycle OfficerUncredited
1941West Point WidowJoe Martin
1941Caught in the DraftStretcher PatientUncredited
1941Kiss the Boys GoodbyePhotographerUncredited
1941Bad Man of DeadwoodCavalry LieutenantUncredited
1941Prairie StrangerBarton
1941Among the LivingTom Reilly
1941Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.Radio AnnouncerSerial, Voice, Uncredited
1941Pacific BlackoutSuspicious Cafe WaiterUncredited
1942The Fleet's InPetty OfficerUncredited
1942A Tragedy at MidnightHenry Carney
1942Sing Your Worries AwaySecond Music PublisherUncredited
1942SabotuerMotorcycle CopVoice
1942Thundering HoofsSteve Farley
1942The Major and the MinorCadet Sergeant at Main GateUncredited
1942USS VD: Ship of Shame'Doc' TaylorUncredited
1945The Missing CorpseOfficer Jimmy TriggUncredited
1945Swingin' on a RainbowHotel ClerkUncredited
1945Behind City LightsJewelry SalesmanUncredited
1945Don't Fence Me InPolice OfficerUncredited
1946The French KeyMurdock
1946O.S.S.OfficerUncredited
1946Black AngelGeorge Mitchell
1946Angel on My ShoulderPolice SergeantUncredited
1946AccompliceSheriff Rucker
1946Affairs of GeraldineCharlie March
1946That Brennan GirlMinor RoleUncredited
1947The Arnelo AffairRoger Alison
1947Suddenly, It's SpringCaptain JergensUncredited
1947Dishonored LadyFreddie FancherUncredited
1947That's My ManUncredited
1947Web of DangerRamsey, Meteorologist
1947Robin Hood of TexasJim Prescott
1947Second ChanceBarker
1947Out of the PastRaffertyUncredited
1948Fort ApacheReporterUncredited
1948Big Town ScandalNewspaper ManUncredited
1948MoonriseCarnival BarkerUncredited
1948The Saxon CharmMr. MaddoxUncredited
1948Sealed VerdictMedical Captain
1949Follow Me QuietlyDixon
1949Mighty Joe YoungReporterUncredited
1949Red, Hot and BlueMovie Patron in TrailerUncredited
1949Chicago DeadlineReporterUncredited
1949Bride for SaleOfficer WhiteUncredited
1950The Daltons' WomenHonest HankUncredited
1950Mother Didn't Tell MeDr. Tod MorganUncredited
1950The GunfighterJohnnyUncredited
1950I Shot Billy The KidSaloon Tough Slapped by Billy
1950Sunset BoulevardSalesman at Men's ShopUncredited
1950Revenue AgentErnie Medford
1951Follow the SunPro Golfer in Locker RoomUncredited
1951In Old AmarilloMike CarverUncredited
1951Kentucky JubileeBarney Malone
1951The Thundering TrailGov. Tom Emery
1951Yes Sir, Mr. BonesEmcee
1951The Vanishing OutpostMack
1952The Frontier PhantomSheriff
1952Kansas City ConfidentialPolice DispatcherUncredited
1952Off LimitsOfficerUncredited
1954The Long WaitHeckling WorkmanUncredited
1954The Bounty HunterHarrison
1955IllegalMr. ManningUncredited

References

  1. Associated Press, "Colorful Co-Pilot Combined Acting and Flying Careers", San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Friday 1 February 1957, Volume LXIII, Number 132, page 8.
  2. "Archie Twitchell".
  3. Associated Press, "Colorful Co-Pilot Combined Acting and Flying Careers", San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Friday 1 February 1957, Volume LXIII, Number 132, page 8.
  4. "Accident Investigation Report". joangushin.net. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  5. "Archie Twitchell (1906-1957) - Find a Grave". Find a Grave.
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