Lombard and her entourage were asked to give up their seats for a group of Army Air Force personnel.
But arguing that because of her war bond efforts she was essential to the trip, she was allowed to reboard.
Hollywood actress Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash. (Public Domain)
Renowned Hungarian violinist Joseph Szigeti was removed instead.
Soon after a refuelling stop in Las Vegas, the plane crashed straight into a near-vertical cliff.
All 22 people on board the flight were killed, including Lombard and her mother.
The crash killed all 22 people on board. (The Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives)
At the time of her death Lombard was one of Hollywood’s biggest actresses, known for her leading roles in screwball comedies.
Lombard’s final film To Be or Not To Be was in post-production when she died.
Released a month after her death, the film has become regarded as a classic comedy.
Lombard’s final film To Be or Not To Be was released posthumously. (United Artists)
The film’s producers reportedly cut a line from her performance in which she remarked, “What can happen on a plane?”
It turned out what had happened was a simple navigation error. Because airway light beacons had been largely turned off during World War II, the pilots were using a compass heading.
But at some point they had gone slightly off course and the pilot thought they were somewhere else entirely.
Clark Gable was distraught after the death of his wife. (Selznick International Pictures)Lombard’s widower Clark Gable was in a strong legal position to sue the airline for a substantial payout.
But too grief-stricken to go through a court case, he settled his claim for just $10.
The biggest star in the world at the time, Gable would leave his acting career behind to join the US Army Air Forces.
He flew on five combat missions, including one where flak went through his boot and narrowly missed his head.
A favourite actor of Adolf Hitler, the German leader offered a sizable reward for his capture.
Despite marrying twice more in his life, Gable would be buried next to Lombard.
Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind. (MGM)