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Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West Picture Archive Page (
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In the summer of 1963 I went to work at a YMCA youth camp in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. It was near here that I happened to stumble upon the wreck of an Air Force C-47. Seeing the remains of C-47B #45-1124 strewn on the east flank of 11,499 foot Mt. San Gorgonio (Old Grey Back) made a lasting impression. From that summer to the present I have been on the trail, whenever possible, documenting old aircraft wreck sites. Tragically thirteen men died in the crash of #45-1124 on 12/1/52. Heavy snowfall prevented rescuers from reaching the crash site until 12/21/52, but no bodies were removed until 5/3/53. One of the passengers had survived the crash, but died of exposure within days. I took this photo of #45-1124 in July 1963. Today the wreckage has slid farther down the mountain, and the yellow X has faded, but the impact of seeing #45-1124 remains undiminished for all who pass by. |
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Pre-WWII insignia on empennage of Boeing B-17C USAAF #40-2047 lost 11/2/41. |
Pat J. Macha and door located aft of bomb bay on #40-2047. |
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G. Pat Macha and wing center section of #40-2047. |
G. Pat Macha and horizontal stabilizer of #40-2047. |
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G. Pat Macha and Don Jordan meet for the first
time in July 2002 at B-17C #40-2047 crash site in El Dorado National
Forest. What a day! Visit Don's web site for the full story on this
accident. |
Three people were killed when their Cessna 172 N4503L ran out of fuel at night east of Big Bear Lake on 5/17/69. |
Date unknown. Schweizer 2-32 crashed in bottom of the east fork of San Gabriel River Canyon two miles south of Vincent Gap. Wreckage is visible and unmarked. |
1/12/37. Boeing 247D NC-13306 of Western Air
Express crashed into the north slope of Pinetos Peak near San Fernando. One crew member
and four passengers died in the crash. However, two of the crew and six passengers
survived with serious injuries. The well-known African explorer Martin Johnson died in the
crash but his wife, Osa, survived. This was a weather related accident. Only a few small
parts remain at site today. |
2/25/44. Curtis C-46A #41-12363 of U.S.A.A.F. hit Pallet Mountain during a winter storm, killing all four crewmen. Site is marked and highly visible on the north slope of the mountain above Devil's Punch Bowl County Park. On 10/3/66 a U.S.A.F. C-119 crashed 200 yards above the C-46. |
7/2/47. North American AT-6C #42-48918 of the California National Guard crashed in rugged Grand Canyon west of Mt. Lowe. Crash occurred in weather, killing the pilot. Some salvage work was completed but one wing with original markings is still there. Wreck is not easily visible from the air and is located close to canyon bottom. |
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