Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West

FG-1A
5/5/45
 

Captain Vermillion flew the F4F and SBD in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. He was assigned to El Toro MCAS in 1944 where he flew as a lead instructor pilot in combat tactics training. On 5/4/44 he crashed to his death in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains while flying a Goodyear FG-1A.

I sometimes find a wreck when a routine survey is done on lands closed to the public. Following a brush fire a naturalist walked the burn area and found wreckage and reported it. A ranger friend of mine suggests that I might be able to identify the aircraft and provide the history surrounding the accident. The photos I’m allowed to use are restricted in order to protect the site as it’s not far from civilization. More than 35% of the Goodyear built FG-1A BuNo 13712 remains at the crash site near Upper Chiquita Canyon in SE Orange County, CA. A monument marker is planned to honor the memory and loss of USMC Captain Calvin K. Vermillion. When the marker is placed the story will be updated.
(Photo courtesy Ken Vermillion via David Schurhammer)

Captain Calvin K. Vermillion USMC on the left stands next to his brother 2nd Lt. Ken Vermillion USMC.	Pitot tube, ammo feed, and flap hinge from FG-1A BuNo 13712.
Our Flag with hydraulic line and fittings.	Lead weight used in control surfaces for balance.
Near main impact a gun port is seen along with cockpit switches and other assorted parts.	The final resting place of BuNo 1372 scattered across a hillside as seen in Springtime with members of the survey team seen on the ridge and in the foreground.