Archie Raymond Twitchell (November 28, 1906 – January 31, 1957) was an American actor and pilot who appeared in over 110 films during his career. He was a captain in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, becoming a test pilot during the war and continuing in that specialization into the 1950s, making his last film appearance in 1955. He was killed in a 1957 mid-air collision during a test flight of a new four-engined Douglas DC-7B airliner that impacted in the Pacoima area of Los Angeles in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

Background Twitchell was born in Pendleton, Oregon, on November 28, 1906. He made his first solo flight in 1923. Two years later, he began an acting career that took him through over 100 movies and television shows. His six-foot, one-inch stature with his grey eyes and brown hair suited the camera.Associated Press, "Colorful Co-Pilot Combined Acting and Flying Careers", San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Friday 1 February 1957, Volume LXIII, Number 132, page 8. He was sometimes billed as Michael Brandan/Brandon/Branden.

Twitchell was also a pilot. Between making pictures, he flew. He toured air shows across the country in 1936, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force in 1942. According to the Associated Press, during the war he tested fighter planes in North Africa and flew transports. In 1951, he tested planes in Israel for the Israeli Air Force. Beginning in February 1955, he had become a production test pilot for the Douglas Aircraft Co.Associated Press, "Colorful Co-Pilot Combined Acting and Flying Careers", San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Friday 1 February 1957, Volume LXIII, Number 132, page 8.

Crash On January 31, 1957, Twitchell was co-pilot on a test flight of a new Douglas DC-7B four-engine airliner over Southern California. The four crew failed to see a Northrop F-89 Scorpion fighter, also on a test flight, in time to avoid a mid-air collision. The Scorpion, coming out of 90-degree turn, struck the DC-7B almost head-on at 11:18 A.M., approximately 1–2 miles NE of the Hansen Dam spillway in the San Fernando Valley. With some 8 1/2 feet of the end of its port wing severed, the DC-7B continued on a westward heading for about 4 miles before breaking up to above the ground; its wreckage impacted in the courtyard of the Pacoima Congregational Church, across the street from Pacoima Junior High School near the corner of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Terra Bella Street in the Pacoima area of Los Angeles; debris killed three students and injured some 74 others. California, killing all four crew.

The CAB accident report states that "At 1118 activity in the Douglas radio room was interrupted by an emergency transmission from N 8210H. The voices were recognized by radio personnel familiar with the crew members. Pilot Cart first transmitted, 'Uncontrollable,' Copilot Twitchell then said, 'We're a midair collision – midair collision, 10 How (aircraft identification using phonetic How for H) we are going in – uncontrollable – uncontrollable – we are ... we've had it boy – poor jet too – told you we should take chutes – say goodbye to everybody.'"

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1937 Sophie Lang Goes West Clerk 1937 This Way Please Soldier Uncredited1937 Partners in Crime Photographer 1937 Hold 'Em Navy Jerry Abbott 1937 Daughter of Shanghai Secretary Uncredited1937 Wells Fargo Man with Paper Uncredited1938 The Buccaneer Party Guest Uncredited1938 The Big Broadcast of 1938 Steward Uncredited1938 Scandal Street Photographer Uncredited1938 Her Jungle Love Roy Atkins 1938 Tip-Off Girls Hensler 1938 Cocoanut Grove Radio Station Technician Uncredited1938 You and Me Salesman Uncredited1938 Prison Farm Telegraph Operator Uncredited1938 Men with Wings Nelson Uncredited1938 The Texans Cpl. Thompson Uncredited1938 Give Me a Sailor Businessman #3 Uncredited1938 Spawn of the North Fisherman Uncredited1938 Illegal Traffic Duke 1938 Say It in French Elevator Operator Uncredited1938 Ride a Crooked Mile Byrd 1939 Disbarred Juror Uncredited1939 Ambush Bank Teller 1939 St. Louis Blues Cameraman Uncredited1939 Persons in Hiding Co-Pilot Uncredited1939 King of Chinatown Hospital Interne 1939 Street of Missing Men Reporter on Dock Uncredited1939 The Lady's from Kentucky Radio Announcer Uncredited1939 Union Pacific Secretary Uncredited1939 Mickey the Kid Shelby, the Bus Driver 1939 Flight at Midnight Uncredited1939 Calling All Marines Ranger Radio Dispatcher Uncredited1939 The Arizona Kid Lieutenant Fox Uncredited1939 Television Spy Jim Winton 1939 Geronimo General's Orderly Uncredited1940 Wolf of New York Cop Uncredited1940 Granny Get Your Gun Joe 1940 Buck Benny Rides Again Mac - Attendant Uncredited1940 Manhattan Heartbeat Pilot Uncredited1940 I Want a Divorce Bill - Husband Uncredited1940 Dr. Kildare Goes Home Bates 1940 Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum Carter Lane 1940 Barnyard Follies Uncredited1940 Young Bill Hickok Phillip 1940 North West Mounted Police Mountie Uncredited1940 Mysterious Doctor Satan Ross Serial1940 Behind the News Reporter 1941 I Wanted Wings Lt. Clarkton 1941 Mr. District Attorney Motorcycle Officer Uncredited1941 West Point Widow Joe Martin 1941 Caught in the Draft Stretcher Patient Uncredited1941 Kiss the Boys Goodbye Photographer Uncredited1941 Bad Man of Deadwood Cavalry Lieutenant Uncredited1941 Prairie Stranger Barton 1941 Among the Living Tom Reilly 1941 Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. Radio Announcer Serial, Voice, Uncredited1941 Pacific Blackout Suspicious Cafe Waiter Uncredited1942 The Fleet's In Petty Officer Uncredited1942 A Tragedy at Midnight Henry Carney 1942 Sing Your Worries Away Second Music Publisher Uncredited1942 Sabotuer Motorcycle Cop Voice1942 Thundering Hoofs Steve Farley 1942 The Major and the Minor Cadet Sergeant at Main Gate Uncredited1942 USS VD: Ship of Shame 'Doc' Taylor Uncredited1945 The Missing Corpse Officer Jimmy Trigg Uncredited1945 Swingin' on a Rainbow Hotel Clerk Uncredited1945 Behind City Lights Jewelry Salesman Uncredited1945 Don't Fence Me In Police Officer Uncredited1946 The French Key Murdock 1946 O.S.S. Officer Uncredited1946 Black Angel George Mitchell 1946 Angel on My Shoulder Police Sergeant Uncredited1946 Accomplice Sheriff Rucker 1946 Affairs of Geraldine Charlie March 1946 That Brennan Girl Minor Role Uncredited1947 The Arnelo Affair Roger Alison 1947 Suddenly, It's Spring Captain Jergens Uncredited1947 Dishonored Lady Freddie Fancher Uncredited1947 That's My Man Uncredited1947 Web of Danger Ramsey, Meteorologist 1947 Robin Hood of Texas Jim Prescott 1947 Second Chance Barker 1947 Out of the Past Rafferty Uncredited1948 Fort Apache Reporter Uncredited1948 Big Town Scandal Newspaper Man Uncredited1948 Moonrise Carnival Barker Uncredited1948 The Saxon Charm Mr. Maddox Uncredited1948 Sealed Verdict Medical Captain 1949 Follow Me Quietly Dixon 1949 Mighty Joe Young Reporter Uncredited1949 Red, Hot and Blue Movie Patron in Trailer Uncredited1949 Chicago Deadline Reporter Uncredited1949 Bride for Sale Officer White Uncredited1950 The Daltons' Women Honest Hank Uncredited1950 Mother Didn't Tell Me Dr. Tod Morgan Uncredited1950 The Gunfighter Johnny Uncredited1950 I Shot Billy the Kid Saloon Tough Slapped by Billy 1950 Sunset Boulevard Salesman at Men's Shop Uncredited1950 Revenue Agent Ernie Medford 1951 Follow the Sun Pro Golfer in Locker Room Uncredited1951 In Old Amarillo Mike Carver Uncredited1951 Kentucky Jubilee Barney Malone 1951 The Thundering Trail Gov. Tom Emery 1951 Yes Sir, Mr. Bones Emcee 1951 The Vanishing Outpost Mack 1952 The Frontier Phantom Sheriff 1952 Kansas City Confidential Police Dispatcher Uncredited1952 Off Limits Officer Uncredited1954 The Long Wait Heckling Workman Uncredited1954 The Bounty Hunter Harrison 1955 Illegal Mr. Manning Uncredited

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