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 U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. 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)
Other namesMichael Branden
Occupations
  • Pilot
  • actor
Years active1937–1955

Background

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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

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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.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1937 Sophie Lang Goes West Clerk
1937 This Way Please Soldier Uncredited
1937 Partners in Crime Photographer
1937 Hold 'Em Navy Jerry Abbott
1937 Daughter of Shanghai Secretary Uncredited
1937 Wells Fargo Man with Paper Uncredited
1938 The Buccaneer Party Guest Uncredited
1938 The Big Broadcast of 1938 Steward Uncredited
1938 Scandal Street Photographer Uncredited
1938 Her Jungle Love Roy Atkins
1938 Tip-Off Girls Hensler
1938 Cocoanut Grove Radio Station Technician Uncredited
1938 You and Me Salesman Uncredited
1938 Prison Farm Telegraph Operator Uncredited
1938 Men with Wings Nelson Uncredited
1938 The Texans Cpl. Thompson Uncredited
1938 Give Me a Sailor Businessman #3 Uncredited
1938 Spawn of the North Fisherman Uncredited
1938 Illegal Traffic Duke
1938 Say It in French Elevator Operator Uncredited
1938 Ride a Crooked Mile Byrd
1939 Disbarred Juror Uncredited
1939 Ambush Bank Teller
1939 St. Louis Blues Cameraman Uncredited
1939 Persons in Hiding Co-Pilot Uncredited
1939 King of Chinatown Hospital Interne
1939 Street of Missing Men Reporter on Dock Uncredited
1939 The Lady's from Kentucky Radio Announcer Uncredited
1939 Union Pacific Secretary Uncredited
1939 Mickey the Kid Shelby, the Bus Driver
1939 Flight at Midnight Uncredited
1939 Calling All Marines Ranger Radio Dispatcher Uncredited
1939 The Arizona Kid Lieutenant Fox Uncredited
1939 Television Spy Jim Winton
1939 Geronimo General's Orderly Uncredited
1940 Wolf of New York Cop Uncredited
1940 Granny Get Your Gun Joe
1940 Buck Benny Rides Again Mac - Attendant Uncredited
1940 Manhattan Heartbeat Pilot Uncredited
1940 I Want a Divorce Bill - Husband Uncredited
1940 Dr. Kildare Goes Home Bates
1940 Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum Carter Lane
1940 Barnyard Follies Uncredited
1940 Young Bill Hickok Phillip
1940 North West Mounted Police Mountie Uncredited
1940 Mysterious Doctor Satan Ross Serial
1940 Behind the News Reporter
1941 I Wanted Wings Lt. Clarkton
1941 Mr. District Attorney Motorcycle Officer Uncredited
1941 West Point Widow Joe Martin
1941 Caught in the Draft Stretcher Patient Uncredited
1941 Kiss the Boys Goodbye Photographer Uncredited
1941 Bad Man of Deadwood Cavalry Lieutenant Uncredited
1941 Prairie Stranger Barton
1941 Among the Living Tom Reilly
1941 Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. Radio Announcer Serial, Voice, Uncredited
1941 Pacific Blackout Suspicious Cafe Waiter Uncredited
1942 The Fleet's In Petty Officer Uncredited
1942 A Tragedy at Midnight Henry Carney
1942 Sing Your Worries Away Second Music Publisher Uncredited
1942 Sabotuer Motorcycle Cop Voice
1942 Thundering Hoofs Steve Farley
1942 The Major and the Minor Cadet Sergeant at Main Gate Uncredited
1942 USS VD: Ship of Shame 'Doc' Taylor Uncredited
1945 The Missing Corpse Officer Jimmy Trigg Uncredited
1945 Swingin' on a Rainbow Hotel Clerk Uncredited
1945 Behind City Lights Jewelry Salesman Uncredited
1945 Don't Fence Me In Police Officer Uncredited
1946 The French Key Murdock
1946 O.S.S. Officer Uncredited
1946 Black Angel George Mitchell
1946 Angel on My Shoulder Police Sergeant Uncredited
1946 Accomplice Sheriff Rucker
1946 Affairs of Geraldine Charlie March
1946 That Brennan Girl Minor Role Uncredited
1947 The Arnelo Affair Roger Alison
1947 Suddenly, It's Spring Captain Jergens Uncredited
1947 Dishonored Lady Freddie Fancher Uncredited
1947 That's My Man Uncredited
1947 Web of Danger Ramsey, Meteorologist
1947 Robin Hood of Texas Jim Prescott
1947 Second Chance Barker
1947 Out of the Past Rafferty Uncredited
1948 Fort Apache Reporter Uncredited
1948 Big Town Scandal Newspaper Man Uncredited
1948 Moonrise Carnival Barker Uncredited
1948 The Saxon Charm Mr. Maddox Uncredited
1948 Sealed Verdict Medical Captain
1949 Follow Me Quietly Dixon
1949 Mighty Joe Young Reporter Uncredited
1949 Red, Hot and Blue Movie Patron in Trailer Uncredited
1949 Chicago Deadline Reporter Uncredited
1949 Bride for Sale Officer White Uncredited
1950 The Daltons' Women Honest Hank Uncredited
1950 Mother Didn't Tell Me Dr. Tod Morgan Uncredited
1950 The Gunfighter Johnny Uncredited
1950 I Shot Billy the Kid Saloon Tough Slapped by Billy
1950 Sunset Boulevard Salesman at Men's Shop Uncredited
1950 Revenue Agent Ernie Medford
1951 Follow the Sun Pro Golfer in Locker Room Uncredited
1951 In Old Amarillo Mike Carver Uncredited
1951 Kentucky Jubilee Barney Malone
1951 The Thundering Trail Gov. Tom Emery
1951 Yes Sir, Mr. Bones Emcee
1951 The Vanishing Outpost Mack
1952 The Frontier Phantom Sheriff
1952 Kansas City Confidential Police Dispatcher Uncredited
1952 Off Limits Officer Uncredited
1954 The Long Wait Heckling Workman Uncredited
1954 The Bounty Hunter Harrison
1955 Illegal Mr. Manning Uncredited

References

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  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.
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