The Untold Story of UA Flight 629 Bombing

When: FRIDAY OCT 31, 8PM MT, SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 2025, 11AM AND 7 PM MT

Location: Church in the City, Old Stapleton Tower, this is now the FlyteCo brewery and restaurant, Wings Over the Rockies.

Cost: FREE, must RSVP using the form below

On Tuesday, November 1, 1955, United Airlines Flight 629 departed Denver’s Stapleton Airfield en route to Portland, Oregon, with 39 passengers and five crew members. Eleven minutes after departing, the flight exploded eight miles east of Longmont, killing everyone aboard.

The bombing was the first confirmed case of sabotage against a commercial aircraft in the U.S. The subsequent investigation set new standards for forensic science in airline crash investigations and ultimately found that John Gilbert Graham of Lakewood, Colorado, placed dynamite in his mother’s suitcase to collect insurance money from her death.

The tragedy led to a landmark decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, which allowed the trial to be televised and paved the way for greater media access to courtrooms. It also dramatically changed security arrangements for air travelers. And, of course, the tragedy shocked the American people due to its cold-blooded nature.

On Friday Evening Church in the City will host a memorial Service honoring victims and first responders.

Special activities include a memorial for the victims at the old Stapleton Tower on Saturday, November 1 at 11 am, which is open to the public. History Colorado is hosting a special display through January 2026. And Denver Police Museum volunteers have located victims’ surviving families who are expected to attend the events.

To mark the tragedy’s 70th anniversary, the Denver Police Department is honored to co-host a symposium in partnership with the University of Denver’s Enrichment Program on November 1 at 7 pm at Wings Over the Rockies (7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver, CO, 80230) that explores the enduring legacy of this horrific event while serving as a tribute to those lost.

Special presentations are planned by guest speakers and former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, who shares the event’s background and trial. Additionally, Marian Poeppelmeyer, daughter of Flight 629 victim Marion Hobgood and author of the book Finding My Father, considers the ripple of tragedy and trauma and the importance of forgiveness.

Mitch Morrissey was elected district attorney of Denver in 2004 and was sworn into office in 2005. He is recognized internationally for his expertise in DNA technology, applying that technology in criminal prosecutions and working to ensure that DNA science is admissible in court. A veteran prosecutor, he introduced the first DNA evidence used in a criminal trial in Denver.