An American Airlines transcontinental flight crashed into the Mississippi River near midnight on February 10, 1944. The cause of the crash has never been entirely explained. The Civil Aeronautics Board promised additional investigation into the tragedy but never went through with it. The plane had 24 persons on board, including 12 members of the armed services. The crash occurred some 18 miles from Memphis with the airliner plunging into a 22 foot channel. It proved very difficult for rescuers to retrieve the bodies. A combination of Red Cross, Coast Guard, Army and FBI personnel assisted in the effort.