Phoenix, Arizona, USA
1954 - 30 PLANES WRECKED BY 70 M.P.H. WIND.

Phoenix, June 13. - (AP) - Cartwheeling across rainswept Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, 30 light planes were wrecked yesterday in a 70-mile-an-hour blow that caused $150,000 damage.

The freakish thunderstorm hit the hangar area only. Half a mile away at the control tower, the wind was only 32 miles an hour.

Sixteen planes were a total loss. Three were swept through a cyclone fence, and one was blown more than 100 yards. Roof sections were torn off the hangars. No one was injured.

"I heard a tremendous roar," said Jim Wood of the Sun Valley air service. "Then the wind caved in the wall of my office at least a foot."

Oakland Tribune
Oakland, California
June 14, 1954

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