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established. This guard was maintained until the wreckage was officially released to the company on January 31, 1942.
A public hearing was held at Los Angeles, California, on January 23, and 24, 1942. Robert W. Chrisp, an attorney for the Board, acting as presiding examiner, and the following personnel of the Safety Bureau of the Board participated in the hearing: R. D. Hoyt, Assistant Director; Frank E. Caldwell, Chief, Investigation Division; and Warren E. Carey, Senior Air Safety Investigator.
Since 15 members of the United States Army Air Corps were passengers on the airplane, the Board invited the Air Corps to participate in the investigation of the accident. Major George W. Haskins attended the proceedings as representative of the Air Corps.
All the evidence available to the Board art the time was presented at the hearing. Testimony was given by 12 witnesses, including experts in various technical subjects involved in the investigation, and 17 exhibits were received in evidence. Depositions of other witnesses were taken and have been made a part of the record. While the examiner and other representatives of the Board and the Air Corps were the only ones designated to ask questions directly of the witnesses, the examiner, acting under instructions of the Board, announced at the opening of the hearing that any person who had any evidence, questions, or suggestions to present for consideration in the proceedings might submit them in writing to the examiner. Nineteen questions were submitted and were asked of the appropriate witnesses.
Upon the basis of all the evidence disclosed by the investigation, the Board now makes its report in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
