A local couple went missing in 1977 while flying home to Soda Springs. Here’s what happened to the Hales
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SODA SPRINGS — A husband and wife from Soda Springs were passengers on a single-engine aircraft that went missing in 1977.
The story of Rodney “Jay” Hale and Martha Hale was featured in our weekly Looking Back column, which looks back on what life was like during different periods in east Idaho history.
Plane goes missing
The Hales went missing while on a flight from Rapid City, South Dakota, to Soda Springs, Idaho. The plane left Rapid City on May 4, 1977.
The Hales were believed to be traveling with Paul Corn and his wife, who were friends from California. Corn was the pilot, and he reportedly failed to file a flight plan.
The plane and occupants were reported missing on May 7, 1977, after the Corns didn’t arrive in Los Angeles, California, for a Mother’s Day celebration.
The Wyoming Civil Air Patrol reported Corn was last heard from on May 4 when he radioed for a weather report from the Lander Airport. Corn had reportedly asked about weather to Casper and Big Piney, Wyoming.
Search gets underway
Scott Air Force Base in Illinois was coordinating search efforts for the plane. The search was centered around the mountain area in Wyoming.
The Civil Air Patrol established a base at Big Piney to conduct the search. Air search was in progress by the Department of Aeronautics and the Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado Civil Air Patrols.
Several local pilots and aircrafts were involved in search operations from May 8 to May 10 before a storm forced search efforts to temporarily stop.
Wreckage found, bodies recovered
Almost one month after the Hales and Corns were reported missing, the plane’s wreckage was spotted on June 5, 1977.
It was determined those on board died in an airplane crash 18 miles southwest of Lander, Wyoming, on May 4, 1977, during a “heavy storm in the area.” No further details were mentioned.
The bodies were recovered June 7, 1977. Jay was 55 years old at the time of his death and Martha was 47.
Remembering the Hales
Funeral services for the Hales were held June 13, 1977, at the Soda Springs LDS Stake Center. Burial was going to be at the Grace Cemetery.
Jay was born in Grace, Idaho, and was a World War II veteran. Martha was born in Turner, Idaho. They were married March 13, 1948, in Grace.
Jay and Irving Norcross had operated the Hale and Norcross tire store for 29 years. Jay and Martha also operated the Soda Springs Bowling Alley at the time of their deaths.
The couple left behind one son and one daughter, both of Soda Springs, and two grandchildren.
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