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| | 1940s: Notable California Aviation Disasters (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-07) |
 | | All 12 passengers and crew aboard the plane died in the fiery crash. |
 | | Among the passengers killed was Academy Award-winning Hollywood composer Ralph Rainger, 41, who had written or collaborated on such hit songs as “Louise,” “Love in Bloom” (comedian Jack Benny’s theme song), “Faithful Forever,” “June in January,” “Blue Hawaii” and “Thanks for the Memory,” which entertainer Bob Hope adopted as his signature song. |
 | | In a separate legal development, a lawsuit seeking $227,637 was filed against American Airlines on behalf of crash victim Ralph Rainger’s wife, Elizabeth, who was left widowed with three small children. |
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