Air Force Pilot Buried After 1952 Crash
Captain Jerome Goebel was laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery seven decades after his plane went down in Alaska.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Military
Air Force Captain Jerome Goebel was buried at Miramar National Cemetery this week, following the identification of his remains from a 1952 plane crash. Goebel was 33 when the C-124 Globemaster he served on collided with Mount Gannett in Alaska.
Why it matters
The identification of Captain Goebel marks the conclusion of a long-term military effort to recover and identify all 52 service members lost in the 1952 disaster. Harsh arctic conditions initially hindered recovery until renewed search operations began in 2012.
Recovery teams spent years searching Surprise Glacier after debris was discovered 12 miles from the crash site in 2012. It has been 73 years since the aircraft crashed into Mount Gannett.
The players
Jerome Goebel
The Air Force Captain was a 33-year-old serviceman who died in the 1952 Alaska plane crash.
The details
Recovery teams returned to the crash site each summer to excavate remains and debris buried under hundreds of feet of snow and ice caused by an avalanche. All 52 individuals aboard the flight have now been identified, closing a case that began on November 23, 1952.
Timeline
November 23, 1952: The C-124 Globemaster crashed into Mount Gannett in Alaska.
2012: The discovery of crash debris initiated renewed recovery efforts.
October 24, 2026: Captain Jerome Goebel was buried at Miramar National Cemetery.
Before the end of 2026: A final service member from the crash is expected to be buried in Arizona.
Political Context
The identification of remains from the 1952 C-124 Globemaster Mount Gannett crash follows years of complex arctic excavation by military recovery teams. This successful mission honors the service of all 52 crew members, providing closure to families decades after the accident.
The burial at Miramar National Cemetery provides a final resting place for the fallen pilot within the San Diego community. This ceremony represents the completion of a multi-decade federal recovery program aimed at identifying service members lost in historical accidents.
The takeaway
The successful identification of all 52 service members demonstrates the commitment of military recovery teams to leave no soldier behind. Families of long-lost military personnel can find hope in these decades-long efforts to resolve cold cases and provide proper burials.
What happens next
The final service member involved in the 1952 Alaska plane crash is scheduled to be buried in Arizona before the end of 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local military history and operations in the Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC 7 San Diego.
