No foolin’ KGB’s shuttle landing

On April 1, 1993 Dave Rickards, morning host at 101.5 KGB-FM, announced that the space shuttle Discovery had been diverted from Edwards Air Force Base near Palmdale and would be landing at Montgomery Field near Kearney Mesa.

Thousands of DSC fans headed towards the landing site that caused enormous traffic jams that lasted for some time. Listeners arrived at the airport armed with cameras, camcorders, and folding chairs. Reportedly the crowd swelled to over 1,000 people.

The shuttle never landed because there wasn’t one on a mission. In fact, the Montgomery Field airport would have been far too small for the shuttle to even consider landing there. San Diego Police had to be called in to clear the traffic. The police were not amused by the prank. The city billed KGB for the cost of forcing officers to direct the traffic.

Dave, several years later, offered a new device that was being sold that would allow listeners to view KGB’s radio show on TV. Local electronic outlets were pestered all day by KGB listeners trying to find the device.

Also the representative of the 54th congressional district of California paid Dave and the crew a visit.

Stay Tuned

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