Marlon Lee Scott

Lebanon native Marlon Lee Scott will finally be laid to rest, more than 70 years after he perished in the crash of a military plane in Alaska. His burial will take place Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Oak Hill Cemetery, following a brief ceremony at Myers Mortuary. In November 1952, a troop transport plane – carrying Airman 3-c Marlon L. Scott and fifty-one other servicemen – vanished over the Gulf of Alaska in extreme blizzard conditions. The aircraft, a C-124 Globemaster – largest transport plane at the time – was in route from McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington, to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. It was later determined that the plane had crashed into the side of Mount Gannett, east of Anchorage, immediately killing all aboard. Days later, a pilot spotted pieces of the wreckage but continued blizzard conditions in the mountainous region made immediate and complete recovery efforts impossible. Officials vowed to continue search and recovery attempts, a process that lasted for decades. That included annual recovery missions to locate and return the remains of departed servicemen. In June 2012, Stephen L. Scott Sr., of Indianapolis, the younger brother of Marlon, was informed by officials that a National Guard helicopter crew had spotted pieces of the plane's wreckage. The debris was scattered and buried on Colony Glacier, twelve miles from where the Globemaster's wreckage was last seen in 1952. That triggered new recovery efforts, which included many agencies and personnel from the Air Force, Army, and National Guard. Through fragments of the wreckage, investigators were able to positively identify this as the 1952 C-124 Globemaster. The next step was to identify – if possible – the remains of the downed airmen. Steve Scott and sister, Arthelma, supplied DNA samples. Marlon’s remains were not identified at the time, but the Scotts remained hopeful that the search efforts would continue. The eventual positive identification of the aircraft brought comfort to the Scott family, if not complete closure. Steve later recounted his thoughts and reflections about his brother, Marlon, in his memoir, The Longest Flight Home. Although the book was originally intended as a family history for the Scott family, Steve has been gratified that relatives of other lost servicemen have also expressed their appreciation for the work. The Scott family did finally experience closure within the last year. In April 2025, Steve received notification that further investigations uncovered and confirmed – through DNA – Marlon's remains. After the necessary paperwork, a coffin carrying Marlon's remains were transported to Lebanon. Born January 21, 1931, in Lebanon, to L. Dowane and Violet Chenault Scott, Airman 3-c Marlon L. Scott was one of twelve Scott siblings. He attended Lebanon High School where he played basketball and baseball. In addition to his brother, Steve, the only other survivor of the first generation of the Scott family is his sister Teya. The public is invited to the funeral service at 11:30 a.m., on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. The Scott family asks, in lieu of flowers, to send contributions in Marlon's name to the Lebanon High School.

Marlon Lee Scott

January 21, 1931 - November 22, 1952