Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 705

from the Latin, monere

“A Bringing to Mind”

On February 12, 1963, the crash of Northwest Orient flight 705 in the Florida Everglades brought pain and loss to families across the United States. In the ensuing years, memory of the event faded from public view. But for those who lost loved ones that day, the tragedy lives on in their lives and the legacy that accident created for their descendants.

It is time to remember and mark this tragedy, one that fundamentally changed aviation history. Because of the lessons learned that day, airline pilots learned new procedures to navigate in severe weather. Communication with aircraft modernized. Engineers designing modern airplanes better understood air turbulence and how to respond to wind shear.

In 2011 a website was created to remember the victims of this accident. In the decade since then northwestorient705.com has become a place of connection for those affected by the crash, a forum to remember and pay tribute to those lost that day. For many who lacked a place to gather about their loved ones, or who were unaware of the flight’s story, http://northwestorient705.com has brought comfort and understanding.

The website’s activity in the ten years since has spurred a new effort to publicly mark 705’s story. On February 12, 2021, a call to Everglades National Park Superintendent Pedro Ramos set this effort in motion. Since then, meetings with Ramos and his staff have explored the feasibility of placing a monument to 705’s victims and their stories near the crash site in southern Florida. As one can imagine, this idea immediately met bureaucratic red tape, but thanks to the website’s responses over the years, and Ramos’s support, it is proceeding.

Sharing what this memorial means to you and your family will contribute to moving this project forward. Please leave your response and ideas on the website, or email me at trebon@comcast.net

In memory,

Theresa Heil Trebon

Daughter of John C. Heil Jr. (1923-1963)

A cold wintry day here in Washington State. This February 12 marks 58 years since families across the United States lost loved ones in the accident of Flight 705 in the Florida Everglades. The memory of these individuals stretches from those directly affected by that day to their descendants: children, grandchildren, great-grand children and more. Time has not dimmed those effects, nor the memories of those who boarded the plane that morning.

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Flight 705 Memorial Website on WordPress. As always I owe a great debt to my daughter, Sarah, who encouraged and assisted me in creating it. For those who have followed this blog my heart goes out to each and every one of you. Here’s to my dad, John C. Heil Jr. and all of our loved ones who left us that day.

Hello again. Valentines Day. Coming just two days after the crash this must have been so painful for our families 57 years ago.

I wanted to invite anyone who cares to, to submit photos of your loved ones that were on 705. There is a special tab for that entitled “Those aboard that day.”

And, just a note about something I just figured out.  If you care to submit a comment, it’s location on the website is dependent on what “tab” you are viewing when you submit your comment. You will note each page has different comments: that’s why.

Sending out good energy to all. Theresa

“Eventually all things merge into one and a river runs through it.
I am haunted by waters.”

-Norman McClean

A new decade. A new set of numbers to mark this day.

57 years since that February 12. Remembering my Dad with much love this day. He would have so loved to meet another great-grandchild who arrived this past year. She graces our lives and one day will learn this story.

Creating an open space in heart and mind for my 92-year-old mother, and my six siblings who remember this day vividly. And an open space for all those in the 705 community who do as well.  Peace to you all.

It is a cold snowy morning here this day. Once again, as throughout the year, thoughts turn to our loved ones who left us 56 years ago today: You live on in the hearts of the families and friends you left behind and who mourn you still.

This website has been a gathering point over the past eight years, a commons for those who lived the story of Flight 705, who have remembered and reflected on that day and its implications. Once again, I give thanks to my daughter Sarah who helped create this virtual bridge for a landing place for us back in 2011. When I voiced a long held desire to connect with others affected by this event, she provided this idea for connection.

So to all who have written in, even though we’ve never met, it’s great to hear from you. To hear your sentiments of how the past five-plus decades have touched your lives brings comfort in a profound way: there are shared threads of how this affected all of us.

Thanks for touching base. Perhaps, in the next five years, we can collectively move forward to a permanent monument for those aboard Flight 705 in Everglades National Park. Please share your thoughts.

We all share a special bond. Here’s to your hearts being in a good place this February.

Theresa

February 12, 2018 marks the 55th anniversary of the loss of Flight 705. That day our lives were forever changed. Today we remember family members, friends, and the crew of Flight 705 with love and gratitude for the time we had with them. Here’s to our collective memories that still capture the essence of who these individuals were and what they meant to us. It is my hope that in the coming years a permanent memorial may be erected to them at Everglades National Park.

Everglades National Park Press Release, February 12, 2013

In memory of all who boarded Flight 705 53 years ago this morning. You are still remembered, and missed, by many.

Thanks to Carol Hall for this poignant article. See page 14.