Buddy Holly, Ritchi Valence, J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) Plane Crash Photos

Bylot · #1 ● 02-02-2012, 06:42 PM

I know, many of these photos are more or less known, already - but I always wondered: who is who on these pics. Reseaching this tragic day, I found it out. If there were pictures taken from the corpses, they are most likely still under lock.

On the last photo all three are taken in one view. The black-coated body near the center of the image is Ritchie Valens (just one image before he is shown in details - even his left hand is recognisable). The bright-coated body at the left side is Buddy Holly and the black spot beyond the fence is The Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson (click on the sixth image and enhace it. You can alnost recognise his face).

Bylot · #2 ● 02-02-2012, 06:53 PM

Autopsies were never made, so there are also no detailed records, but I found the coroner's reports and description of the bodies. Here are excerpts with the important section in question. And they give a real creepy impression what photos would show.

Billthegravedigger · #3 ● 02-02-2012, 07:08 PM

They actually did an autopsy on the big bopper after he was exhumed and moved to another section of the cemetary where he could have an upright headstone.

Bylot · #4 ● 02-02-2012, 07:09 PM

Here's a vintage newspaper account pointing out the bodies by arrows.

kayo brizzle · #5 ● 02-02-2012, 07:12 PM

Danke schon!

Very interesting post!

Bylot · #6 ● 02-02-2012, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by Billthegravedigger ↗

They actually did an autopsy on the big bopper after he was exhumed and moved to another section of the cemetary where he could have an upright headstone.

You're right. This was in 2007, when his son wanted to find out the truth about some rumors. But it was no real "autopsy", it was a fast examination by a mobile X-ray gear. And it only made clear, that he, like the others, had to be dead instantly.

Billthegravedigger · #7 ● 02-02-2012, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bylot ↗

You're right. This was in 2007, when his son wanted to find out the truth about some rumors. But it was no real "autopsy", it was a fast examination by a mobile X-ray gear. And it only made clear, that he, like the others, had to be dead instantly.

Yeah that is right. Don't know why I was thinking it was a full on autopsy. Some people said the Big Bopper was shot maybe ? Somthing to that effect anyway.