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Show THE DURANG0 COLORADO Army Offers HERALD 12 Feb & Reward DURANGO-The United States Army has offered a reward of up to $100 for information on the specific location of the missing parts of the Athena missile which crashed off course Monday southeast of Durango. Major James Donald, head of the White Sands army recovery group and George W. Ross, civilian who is missile flight surveillance oficer, especially requested this morning that no part be touched. They said, "The position in which they have fallen can give valuable technical information to engineers. Pictures should be taken before they are moved.". Donald and Ross were full of praise for the cooperation of local people especially, the state highway patrol, the office of La Plata county sheriff Walter Conrad and Frontier Airlines. They said the first arrivals from the recovery unit had been so busy attempting to locate the parts that they had little time, to acquaint local residents about what had happened or what they were doing. Lt. Joe Relihan of the state highway patrol reports he had only two hours sleep during the 30 hours which followed the accident. "However, we do want the public to know the facts and how grateful we are for the assistance. It is La Plata county people who so far have_ found all the recovered pieces." The text of the army reward offer reads as follows: "Reward of up to $100 for information leading to specific location of components of the Athena missile which impacted generally southeast of Durango towards Ignacio, Colo, and vicinity on Feb. 10, 1964. Information must be specific, and guide of U.S. army personnel to the location furnished. Components must be left and not touched. U.S. army personnel will identify and move components. C a p t. Norman,, Home, U.S. army, can be contacted through the Colorado state patrol-247-4722 or the La Plata county sheriff's office - 247-1155." .^Donald said he already had a partial list of those who had been especially helpful in the recovery operations. The names on this -list are: State highway patrol: Capt. C.^ D. Watts, Lt. Joe Relihan, Sgt. G. V. Kenady, Patrolmen Ernesf Stevens, Don Rasnic and H. E: Luoma and radio technician Neil Haley. Sheriff's office: Sheriff Walter^ Conrad, Undersheriff L y n n Brown, Deputy Frank Adams and aiding the staff Ury Ealum and Tom Metz. Frontier Airlines: Walter Rea, Harry Fasset jr., Fred Klatt 3d, Dick Hill, George Thomas and Norman Offenbacker. The army is also appreciative to Dale McConnel for offering his warehouse. Ross said that there should be at least two more pieces, one of which is especially important from a technical point of view, and that they are most likely to be nearer La Boca on the Pine river at the New Mexican border than to La Plata airfield. Donald said the White Sands ,now has four aircraft in this area with six pilots and a ground .cjcew of 11. The ground crew operate in yellow hooded vehicles so that they can be seen from the air. Ross said, "The search of the already difficult and woody terrain has been further hampered by last night's snowfall. The pieces are a dirty white." The total recovery force available at White Sands consists of 19 aircraft with 70 pilots and maintenance personnel and recovery ground crews totaling 130 Officers and men. Their task Donald says, is to recover all missiles so they spend most time locating properly landing missiles. During 1963 only 9 of the 3,000 missiles launched by the United States were lost. "Since small weather rockets are particularly hard to find, we think this a pretty good record." Pilots in the recovery group have also engaged in other search and rescue operations, such as finding a lost professor : from the University of Utah. Donald said, "Considering the fact many arrived with little ;' money, without change of clothing and razors, the people of La. Plata county have been most understanding and considerate ,of' us." i "How long shall we search? , W6 cannot tell. However, we .' shall make a maximum effort as long as seems practical." ! Others mentioned by Major Donald include Floyd Gregg, ; airport manager; Ron New-| brough of Skyhook, Inc.; Kivie ' Ayer, R. L. Ahrens, Dick New--;ton and Russell Brown of the VE1 Paso Natural Gas plant; Mrs. Brown, who reported the first sighting of the falling miss-'. ing, missile, and R. H. Barnes, ! on whose land the so far recovered portions of the package landed. .. •- -. |