Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California
End of Watch: Monday, April 15, 1957
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 452
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: April 15, 1957
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Raymond Willis and Sergeant Vernon Corbell were killed in an airplane accident while searching for a downed plane near Malibu.
The plane Sergeant Corbell was piloting experienced engine trouble, and he attempted to land at an emergency landing strip in Puerco Canyon. During the landing, the plane struck a ridge and burst into flames, crashing only 500 feet from the landing strip.
Sergeant Willis was a United States Navy World War II veteran and had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for nine years. He was survived by his wife and two children.