G. Pat Macha
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"Aircraft Wrecks..." Book and "Wreck Finding" DVD contact G. P. Macha

Article in the LA Times "Flames exhume plane crashes' bones and memories" April 30, 2008
Article in the OC Register "Wreck hunter sheds light on history" October 8, 2007

Article in the LA Times, , "Wreck finders help repair memories" September 23, 2007


Ongoing Search for
Gertrude Tompkins Silver

Silver update March 13, 2008

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G. Pat Macha
Speaker  Engagement list
Author  "Aircraft Wrecks..." Book
Host  "Wreck Finding" DVD


Peter Stekel in August 2007 at the crash site of USAAF Beechcraft AT-7 #41-21079 that was posted missing on 11/18/42 training flight. Peter has a book in the works on this most interesting story.
To learn more click here.
Addendum added 3/13/2008


Recent Crash Site Visitations  

Missing Aircraft in California  

Stories with Returned Artifacts
B-24D   4/9/44
B-24L   1/30/45
B-25D
  10/2/44
P-59A  
3/1/45
TP-39N 
9/6/44
 

Story Archive
Northrop A-17  

B-12A  
5/28/35
B-24E  
12/5/43
B-24J 
 5/16/44
B-24J 
 5/5/44
BT-13A  
1/8/43
C119C Mystery
C182
 11/10/69
C-46A   10/5/45
DC-3   11/21/50 
F-105D   12/7/67
F3D-2   1952-53
F3H-2N  
10/3/56
F4U-4   4/23/46
F6F-5N 
 3/6/49
F9F-5  
2/2/57
FG-1A  
5/5/45
JF-104A   5/1/57
JF-104A 
11/22/66
Mooney M20  
12/3176
P-38  
5/4/44
P-38/EA-3B 
 6/18/44 & 9/10/62
PA-22  
10/28/56  
PBJ-1D  
4/26/44
SA-16A  
1/24/52
TB-25N  
1/26/56
TBM-3  
10/1/52
TS-2A  
10/5/98
TWA Martin 404  
2/19/55
YF-89D
  
10/20/53
 

Monument Site
B-24E   7/5/43
B-24E   3/3/44
B-24J    5/4/45
B-25D   10/2/44
B-24J/TF100C 7/2/44 & 4/9/57
B-26    12/30/41
Beechcraft 95
C-130A   6/17/02   New Story
DC-6B   10/1/92
DH-4B   12/7/22
FJ-4   3/27/61  
N-3PB   4/21/43
P-40's  10/24/41
P2V5/C118A   2/1/58
PV-1   2/24/44
X-15   11/15/67
Project Remembrance
BLM Aircraft Historical Sites

 

Special Projects
Gertrude Tompkins Silver

Steve Fossett Search  
Addendum 3/13/08
Another Long Missing Aircraft


Picture Archive

Latest picture posted  5/9/08


How to ID a micro-site

ID a micro-site
Info added   5/15/2007


Related Story
World War II Airman Found
Frozen in Glacier

    Continuing story 9/28/07


Articles
For a complete list of articles featuring G. Pat Macha
Latest article   3/20/2007


Related Links, Organizations

& Associations
Links   European links


Recommended Readings

Latest posting   6/29/2007



Beechcraft 95 story

Adorned with the coins of passerby’s the words on the monument marker simply state the truth of the day. “IN LOVING MEMORY…

See story & photos


 


Sgt. Michael Rudich USAAF (1924-1944) radio operator aboard #42-41128.
( Photo courtesy Marcia Shealey)
 

B-24D story

Marie Michell Robinson lost her life in service to our Nation on 10/2/44.
We remember her and her crewmates, and we honor their sacrifice.

B-25 & WASP story

 

 

2nd Lt. Pat L. Montgomery upon earning his wings in July, 1944. In less than two months he would join the ranks of more than 35,000 airmen and women who would lose their lives while flying in and around the continental United States during the Second World War.

TP-39N story

Captain Calvin K. Vermillion USMC on the left stands next to his brother 2nd Lt. Ken Vermillion USMC.

FG-1A story

 

 

2nd Lt. Floyd P. Hart USAAF co-pilot on Consolidated B-24E # 42-7160 that crashed on San Miguel Island 7/5/43.
(Photo courtesy Mark McDonald)

B-24E story

Aviation Cadet Rex R Phillips, circa 1943 standing in front of his USAAF Stearman PT-17. On 8/1/44 he was co-pilot on B-24D #42-72862 that mid-aired at 20,000’ over Death Valley, CA. with B-24J #42-78532 killing all seventeen crewmen on both aircraft with only one survivor. Expanded story to be posted soon.
(Photo courtesy Judy Beal)

See photo in picture archive page 6

 

 

Beechcraft AT-11 #41-9497 was flown by USAAF 2ndLt Clarence D. Lambert,
shown here shortly before he crashed into the rugged Santa Ynez Mountains
north of Santa Barbara, Ca. on 1/30/44 with fatal result for himself and his crew. (Photo courtesy Marc McDonald)

Aviation Cadet Rex C. Corder prepares to board his USAAF Boeing/Stearman PT-17 in 1944. (Photo courtesy of the Corder Family)

Beechcraft 95 story

 

 

T/Sgt. Harvey Cook was killed on 1/30/45 near Victorville, CA following a distinguished combat career in the India, China, Burma Theatre of Operations.

B-24L story

Ensign Henry "Hank" Harding, Jr. kneels in front of his USN Beechcraft
T-34B primary/basic trainer. On 3/27/61 Lt. JG Henry Harding, Jr. would lose
his life in a crash of his FJ-4 on rugged Otay Mountain.
(Photo courtesy Marc Harding)

FJ-4 story
 


Site Dedication

This site is dedicated to the memory of those men and women who lost their lives in service to our nation, especially those who remain missing and unaccounted for, in the vastness of the American West and the Pacific Ocean.

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