Armistice day Storm 1940

[Gellar]

Midwesterners have probably heard this story, but it is something I think about every year.
http://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/213/The-Armistice-Day-Blizzard-of-1940

 

[Keeptrying]

Absolutely. Good on you for posting this. Every year there are new waterfowl hunters heading out who have no idea how bad it can get, and how fast it can do so.

 

[duckhunt]

I have read that story time and time again. Always amazes me how fast things changed for the worse.

 

[mikieb]

I heard of it 20 some years ago... did some research on it.. holy cow ! it was bad... every year I think of them poor bastards.

 

[Gellar]

I feel remiss for not bringing this up yesterday. The Armistice day storm of 1940, now 85 years ago claimed the lives of hunters and fishermen in the Midwest. Here is a local account from a local commercial fishing family who got caught in the storm.

 

[buckbull]

We had a couple duck hunters airlifted from calhoun point. They were running a blackstone that fell over tearing the fuel line and caught everything on fire. Had to bale out of the shooting holes into the river. Happened a few days ago.

 

[Gellar]

We had a couple duck hunters airlifted from calhoun point. They were running a blackstone that fell over tearing the fuel line and caught everything on fire. Had to bale out of the shooting holes into the river. Happened a few days ago.

Having spent significant amounts of time in duck blinds throughout pike and Calhoun counties I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more.

 

[Nick87]

We had a couple duck hunters airlifted from calhoun point. They were running a blackstone that fell over tearing the fuel line and caught everything on fire. Had to bale out of the shooting holes into the river. Happened a few days ago.

Saw that. Anytime a big cold front comes through in the fall I think about the armistice day story.

 

[buckbull]

Having spent significant amounts of time in duck blinds throughout pike and Calhoun counties I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more.

Yeah. Every blind is running buddy heaters and some way to cook breakfast.

 

[Gellar]

Yeah. Every blind is running buddy heaters and some way to cook breakfast.

And dogs, and booze. I hunted in some that propane fridges, ovens, and stoves. And those were just poor hillbillies. I’m guessing a lot of the permanent pits are hard wired or have power boxes and solar; some of them have starlink and flat screens now.

 

[Nick87]

wired or have power boxes and solar; some of them have starlink and flat screens now.

Sure do. Another one I'll never understand.

 

[buckbull]

Most guys have batteries to run 12v lights. Not many seem to be roughing it.

 

[Treeshark]

I’ve always been fascinated by the reports from hunters right before the storm hit- sounds like their was ducks flying everywhere seeking refuge.

 

[crock239]

The Armistice Day Storm is a tremendous story...would probably make a compelling movie.

I learned about it when I read a piece Gordon MacQuarrie wrote on the Armistice Day storm...it can be found in a collection of his newspaper columns called Right Off The Reel.













I recommend everyone have some of MacQuarries writings on their bookshelf

 

[Gellar]

I’ve always been fascinated by the reports from hunters right before the storm hit- sounds like their was ducks flying everywhere seeking refuge.

The sky was dark with waterfowl according to most reports.

 

[Nick87]

The sky was dark with waterfowl according to most reports.

Would've been a sight to see.

 

[crock239]

Same storm system that brought down the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

 

[Southern Elk]

The sky was dark with waterfowl according to most reports.

I would have stayed out in it too.

 

[buckbull]

Can you imagine doing jumping Jack's for 24 hours straight to save your life while watching your dad and brother die and losing both legs below the knee because they froze solid. One tough dude.