San Carlos in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Navy R4D (C-47) Crash

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 3, 2022

1. Navy R4D (C-47) Crash Marker

Inscription. During World War ll, a heavy storm blanketed the Bay Area on the night of March 14, 1945. A U.S. Navy R4D (C-47) transport carrying a crew of three and 20 passengers was attempting to land at Oakland Airport. After aborting the landing, the R4D became lost in the clouds and crashed within the bounderies of this park. Sixteen men survived while seven servicemen perished. Killed were:
L.T.(j.g.) William Karlick - Pilot • Ens. Clois Holmes, Jr. - Co-pilot • Robert A. Trout - Flight orderly • LCdr. Robert H. Allen • LCdr. John Brahtz • SIC Richard Johnston • SIC Victor Salazar, Jr.
San Carlans remember the sacrifice of these servicemen within our city limits.

Erected 2022 by City of San Carlos Parks and Recreation Department.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical date for this entry is March 14, 1945.

Location. 37° 29.083′ N, 122° 16.897′ W. Marker is in San Carlos, California, in San Mateo County. It is on Brittan Avenue west of Alameda de las Pulgas, on the right when traveling west. Located at the Brittan Avenue entrance to the hiking trail at Big Canyon Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3190 Brittan Ave, San Carlos CA 94070, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: City of San Carlos Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ralph D. Percival Memorial (approx. one mile away); Town of West Union (approx. 1.8 miles away); Gaspar de Portolá Expedition Campsite (approx. 1.8 miles away); Filoli (approx. 1.8 miles away); A Monument to Water (approx. 1.9 miles away); San Carlos Station (approx. 2 miles away); San Carlos Depot (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Carlos.

Also see . . .
1. Remembering the 1945 Navy Plane Crash. (Submitted on August 3, 2022.)
2. Crash Information. (Submitted on August 3, 2022.)

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 3, 2022

2. Navy R4D (C-47) Crash Marker

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 3, 2022

3. Navy R4D (C-47) Crash Marker

Big Canyon Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 3, 2022

4. Big Canyon Park

Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2022, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,404 times since then and 781 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 3, 2022, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 4. submitted on August 4, 2022, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.