On November 1, 1955, a routine two-hour journey from Denver, Colorado, to Portland, Oregon, commenced as United Airlines Flight 629 took to the skies. Tragically, this flight would soon become known as the Fatal Flight of United Airlines 629, a catastrophic event that unfolded just 11 minutes after takeoff, claiming the lives of all 39 passengers and five crew members aboard. This mysterious crash initiated one of the most significant and chilling criminal investigations in early American aviation history.
The immediate aftermath presented a bewildering scene. Eyewitnesses on the ground reported a fiery explosion in the air, followed by flares streaming downwards, and then a second, distinct explosion upon impact. The extensive wreckage was scattered across a vast area, painting a grim picture of the destructive forces at play.
The Initial Investigation: Unraveling a Catastrophe
Following the catastrophic event, a rigorous multi-agency investigation was promptly launched. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was brought in to assist the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the primary body responsible for aviation accident inquiries at the time. Their initial focus quickly centered on the discovery of the aircraft’s tail section. Unlike the rest of the fuselage, which bore the scars of a violent explosion, the tail appeared to have been cleanly severed from the plane, as if by a knife. This alarming observation immediately raised questions beyond typical mechanical failure, hinting at a more sinister cause rather than a mere structural or engineering malfunction.
Wreckage Analysis and the Crucial Discovery
Careful forensic examination of the recovered debris became paramount. The fuselage itself showed clear signs of severe damage consistent with an internal explosion. Engineers meticulously reconstructed parts of the aircraft in a Denver warehouse, analyzing every fragment for clues. Their painstaking work ultimately pinpointed the origin of the blast: cargo hold number four. This determination was made by analyzing the size and distribution of shrapnel pieces, indicating that the explosion had occurred within this specific section of the plane. This critical finding fundamentally shifted the direction of the investigation.
On November 7, 1955, the CAB’s chief of investigations officially declared that the crash was not an accident caused by structural or engineering malfunction. This pivotal declaration formally requested the FBI to conduct a criminal investigation, transforming the inquiry from an aviation accident into a murder case. The focus quickly turned from material fatigue to potential human sabotage, leading agents to meticulously track down and interview everyone involved – from cargo loaders and maintenance personnel to airline staff, passengers, crew, and their respective networks.
A Turn Towards Treachery: Identifying a Motive
As the criminal investigation deepened, agents began to scrutinize the passenger manifest and any unusual circumstances surrounding those on board. Their attention soon narrowed to passenger Daisie E. King. Her personal effects, recovered from the crash site, included traveler’s checks, two keys, a safety deposit box receipt, and curiously, newspaper clippings detailing her son’s past legal troubles. These items were found within her carry-on luggage, which was not subjected to the same scrutiny as checked baggage, a detail that would later prove crucial.
While only small fragments of Mrs. King’s believed suitcase were recovered from the cargo hold, the connection to her son, Jack Gilbert Graham, quickly escalated suspicions. Graham was already known to authorities, having been previously charged with forgery and listed on the local
