Warnings Unheeded

Twin Tragedies at Fairchild Air Force Base

By: Andy Brown

Narrated by: Michael F. Cochrane

Mass murder and military aviation disaster. One community's experience with two fatal tragedies that occurred suddenly...but not without warning.

On 20 June 1994, a gunman opened fire on the patrons and staff of the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital. Four days later, a B-52 bomber with four souls onboard went down in a fiery crash. Hundreds of ordinary men and women experienced the tragedies...countless others had struggled to prevent them.

Everyone who met the would-be gunman thought he was odd, but the disturbed airman struck fear in those who knew him. Doctors had him committed to a military psychiatric ward, only to watch him slip through the cracks of a broken system. They warned their staff, "This is the kind of patient who...one day...he's going to come back and kill you."

A veteran B-52 pilot wowed the crowd at Fairchild’s annual air shows. But the men who had to fly with him shared tales of the reckless aviator routinely stressing the airliner-sized bomber and her crew to their breaking point. When their leadership failed to act, concerned aircrews said, "We predicted the worst air-show disaster in history when we found out that he was gonna fly."

Warnings Unheeded is compelling narrative nonfiction from former military policeman and criminal investigator, Andy Brown. Drawing from extensive research, and interviews with the people who witnessed the tragedies unfold, Brown captures their story with cinematic clarity. As the man who ended the killing spree, Brown reveals how he had prepared for the deadly gunfight and offers a candid insight into the hidden cost of becoming a "hero".

Warnings Unheeded is a story of courage and resilience, a true survival story and a lesson from history.

Listen to this fascinating true story of mental illness, mass murder, and aviation disaster.

"A highly readable book...from a unique source. Recommended for a wide audience." (Ron Franscell, best-selling true-crime author of Delivered From Evil and The Darkest Night)

©2016 Andy Brown (P)2017 Andy Brown

Critic reviews

"In vivid and thoroughly researched detail, Andy Brown masterfully weaves two tragic stories ... this is an important and well-written read." (Gregory K. Moffatt, PhD, author of Blind-Sided: Homicide Where It Is Least Expected)

Powerful, Instructive, Tragic

This is a great book, well put together and performed. It is hard to give it a 5 if 5 means "I loved it." The events are so tragic, and could have, yea should have been avoided. I commend for doing such a thorough job on a very difficult subject.

The memories of that day came flooding back...

I knew Dr. Alan London. My husband and I chatted with him outside his office 5 minutes before he was killed.

Thank you Andy Brown for writing this book and filling in so many holes about that day.

Oh...and I was walking out of the BX that Friday, the 24th, buying a sympathy card to take to Dr. London's memorial service. I saw the B-52 crash.... thanks for all the research you did to document the SYSTEMIC idiocy that allowed that damn hot dog F15 pilot wannabe to continue flying and endangering others. I had NO idea that the copilot's teen son's and wife watched the crash. Dear Lord....
Lastly Andy, I'm thrilled to hear your life is joyful in Spokane, a community I love and maintain ties to still.

God bless you and your family.

Excellent! Should be required reading

…for today’s military. We were stationed at a different largeB-52 base when these events occurred. Many in that community knew of Bud Holland and his antics. I won’t repeat other accolades but simply add ours—this book is well with a credit, both for the two highlighted stories and for the author’s own tale. Definitely recommend.

Excellent narration of two very sad occurrences

Andy Brown successfully interweaves his story with that of Dean Mellberg , the shooter , starting at childhood and building to the action of June 1994 . He starts to add in the story of Lt Col Arthur Holland a few years prior to 1994 . He weaves them together very well .

excellent

This was an excellent cautionary tale in highlighted the shortfalls of our mental health treatment in the military and also in the civilian sector every military officer should have to read this