Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West


Recent Crash Site Visitations
* Visitation, but not by Pat
 

2011

November
  • 7/10/43 Curtiss P-40M non-fatal, micro site near Rice AAB.

  • 1/31/44 P-39Q fatal, micro site near Rice AAB. Trey Brandt, guide

  • 2/6/44 P-39Q non-fatal, micro site near Rice AAB, Trey Brandt, guide.

  • 5/23/09 Kit Fox fatal, very micro near Apple Valley, BLM guide.

  • 7/23/90 PA-28 (2) fatal, micro site NE of Apple Valley, George Petterson, guide.

  • 2/8/55 B-57B (2) fatal, micro site re-visit Apple Valley.

  • 11/18/54 F-86D fatal, micro site re-visit NE Victorville.

December
  • Date Unknown vintage Light aircraft micro site near Johannesburg, CA.

  • 7/2/44 B-24J (10) fatal re-visit north Kramer Junction memorial site.

  • 10/15/46 P-80A (1) minor re-visit in Box Springs Mountains.

  • 8/12/43 B-24E (10) fatal NE of Palm Springs special thanks to Trey Brandt.

  • 7/20/68 TBM-3E (1) fatal re-visit near Idyllwild.

 

 

September
  • 5/5/44 Goodyear FG-1A re-visit site with State Park Ranger Jordan Fenwick in Santa Ana Mountains

October
  • 3/25/77 C-172 near Inyokern (1) fatal, (3) serious micro site.

  • 12/12/05 Beechcraft A-23 near north of Bishop (2) fatal micro site.

  • 2/26/06 Aero Vodochody L-39 (2) fatal north of Mojave re-visit.

  • 6/7/86 Beechcraft M35 (3) serious north of Bishop re-visit.

  • 12/5/43 B-24H (6) minor/none near Manzanar re-visit.

  • 4/29/46 Grumman F7F-1 (1) minor near Manzanar re-visit.

  • 11/19/67 PA-28 (1) fatal viewed from Hwy 395 re-visit.

July
  • 5/16/68 Sikorsky CH-53A Bu No 154875 USMC (1) fatal (3) serious (2) major (10) minor/none. Crash site is on Toro Peak in Santa Rosa Mountains. A second USMC CH-53A lies nearby on Santa Rosa Peak at the 6.500’ elevation. This accident occurred on 5/3/70 killing one, critically injuring two, and seriously injuring two others.

  • * 3/13/45 Douglas Dakota MK IV KN345 Royal Air Force (5) fatal missing until 5/13/45. (3) R.A.F. crewmen, (1) R.C.A.F., and (1) USAAF passenger. Crash site in the rugged mountains of northern Ventura County. Special thanks to Marc Mc Donald and his wife Jen who accompanied Pat J. Macha and Tom Maloney to the crash site.

August
  • 4/23/93 Piper PA-24 San Bernardino Mountains (1) fatal weather and other factors. Micro site less than 1% remaining.

  • 1/28/95 Piper PA-28 San Bernardino Mountains (2) fatal engine not removed before flight. Micro site less than 1% remaining.

  • 11/15/97 Mooney Mk 20 San Bernardino Mountains (2) fatal weather a factor. Micro site re-visit.

  • 2/21/77 Beechcraft K35 San Bernardino Mountains (4) fatal weather a factor. 1st search effort unsuccessful.

  • 4/28/67 Piper PA-28 San Bernardino Mountains (4) fatal weather a factor. Aerial search made by Chris LeFave on behalf of next of kin. Site not located, but ground search will be undertaken when better information is obtained.

 

May
  • Date unknown light plane micro site on step slope near old Saint George Airport, UT.

  • 4/21/58 Douglas DC-7 N6328C United Airlines, very micro with small memorial for the forty-seven victims, SW Las Vegas, NV.

  • 5/5/44 Goodyear FG-1A USMC revisit site in Santa Ana Mountains.

  • 8/11/50 (2) Douglas B-26B’s USAF revisit sites after many years, they remain mostly undisturbed, and now have BLM protection.  

  • 1/17/53 NAA F-86D USAF NW of Victorville, search effort #5 unsuccessful.

  • 5/2/51 Republic F-84E USAF NW of Victorville, search effort #3 unsuccessful.

June
  • 5/22/78 Piper Super Cub N1256A (1) fatal on very steep and brushy terrain in San Gabriel Mountains near Claremont. Special thanks to Ryan Gilmore for making this site visit possible.

  • * 2/10/59 Lockheed T-33A 56-3683 (2) fatal on the west flank of Mt. San Antonio in the San Gabriel Mountains. Chris LeFave and Ryan Gilmore spotted the wreckage of 56-3683 during an aerial search in May 2011. In mid-June 2011 Chris LeFave and Pat J. Macha reached the widely scattered T-33A wreckage in very rugged and steep terrain.

 

March
  • 2/8/31 Douglas BT-2B USAAC (1) minor/bailout, San Jacinto Mnts. Thanks to Chris Le Fave.

  • 1955 Grumman F9F-5 USN, (1) fatal San Diego County Mnts, accidental find thanks to Pat J. Macha.

  • 9/22/58 Lockheed TV-2/T-33B USN, (2) successful ejection Anza Borrego Desert Mnts, thanks to Jamie Lievers.

  • 11/22/69 McDonnell F-4B USMC, mid-air (1) fatal (1) minor Anza Borrego Desert, thanks to Joe Idoni.

  • 3/26/45 NAA P-51D USAAF (1) fatal Southern Mojave Desert thanks to Lewis Shorb.

 

 

April
  • 6/3/55 SNJ-2 USN (2) fatal micro site east San Diego County thanks to P. J. Macha and Bert Bertels.

  • Date unknown, type unknown appears to be military, very micro east San Diego County thanks to Bruce Guberman

  • 1/28/55 F9F-5 USN (1) fatal widely scattered accidental find east San Diego County.

  • 5/5/43 RP-38E USAAF (1) fatal micro site Mojave Desert thanks to Don Jordan via Jim Rowan.

  • 6/16/55 F-86H USAF (1) non-fatal micro site NE Las Vegas, NV. Thanks to Craig Fuller and Dave Mihalik.

  • 1/29/45 P-39Q USAAF (1) non-fatal micro site NE Las Vegas, NV. Thanks to Craig Fuller.

  • 8/28/79 (2) F-4D’s mid-air (2) fatal, (2) non-fatal widely scattered site NE Las Vegas, NV. Thanks to Craig Fuller.

January
  • 4/15/61 Cessna L-19A ANG (2) fatal in rugged country, 60% remaining, hiking guide to site, Marc McDonald.

  • 12/22/44 Lockheed P-38H USAAF (1) minor, micro site, guide to site, Marc McDonald.

  • * 4/14/55 Beechcraft Bonanza (2) fatal located by Marc McDonald after several hikes into very rugged country.

  • 10/2/44 Vultee BT-13B USAAF (1) minor via helicopter, flyby only, 2nd re-visit.

  • 4/13/44 P-39N USAAF (1) fatal, 3rd effort to locate, no luck.

  • 3/6/73 F-101B USAF (1) fatal (1) injured, micro site scattered.

  • 2/13//61 F-100D USAF (1) none, scattered micro site, thanks to AAIR.

  • 7/15/55 F-84G USAF (1) fatal, scattered micro site, thanks to AAIR.

  • 1/24/44 A-20G USAAF (1) fatal, 15% plus remaining, thanks to Trey Brandt.

 

February
  • 10/7/66 Vought F-8E USN (1) fatal 15% site east Mojave Desert, thanks to Reed Nescher.

  • 7/24/43 Consolidated B-24E USAAF (4) fatal 1% or less, re-visit near Blythe.

  • 10/4/43 Consolidated B-24D USAAF (10) fatal less than 1%, re-visit near Blythe.

  • 3/17/71 Vought A-7E USN (1) fatal 2% near Blythe, thanks to Trey Brandt.

  • 6/23/43 Bell P-39D USAAF (1) O.K.1% near Blythe, thanks to Trey Brandt.

  • 1/21/44 Consolidated B-24J USAAF (7) fatal 2% near Blythe, thanks to Trey Brandt.

  • 10/23/42 Douglas DC-3 American Air Lines (12) fatal 1% near Palm Springs, thanks to Louis Shorb.

 

2010

November
  • 5/16/61 McDonnell F3H-2 USN (1) fatal, scattered, 20% remaining. D. Richardson guide.

  • 3/15/86 McDonnell Douglas OA-4M USMC (1) minor, micro site, re-visit.

  • 8/25/85 Sikorsky CH-53E USMC, (1) Fatal, (3) serious, no wreckage located, removed/built on.

  • 4/14/55 Beech 35 (2) fatal, aerial search no result, B. Guberman, pilot.

  • 4/15/61 Cessna L-19A ANG, (2) fatal, 60% plus, M. McDonald guide. Fly over

  • 8/16/09 Cessna 152 (2) fatal, micro site, R. Gilmore guide.

  • 1/18/10 Cessna 340 (2) fatal, micro site re-visit, LeFave guide.

  •  3/6/98 Sikorsky SH-60B USN, (5) fatal, monument site/micro, Gilmore/LeFave guides.

 

December
  • 1/9/55 Beechcraft SNB-5 USN (3) fatal San Bernardino Mountains, unmarked/burned, David Haller, guide.

  • 10/2/44 Vultee BT-13B USAAF (1) minor San Jacinto Mountains, unmarked, aerial photo mission Chris LeFave, pilot.

  • Date unknown, type unknown, military micro site Mojave Desert.

  • Date unknown McDonnell F3H-2 USN (1) minor El Capitan Mountain area, micro site. Special thanks to guides Billy Ortiz, Dennis Richardson, and Boxey Phoenix of the Barona Tribe. More research needed, may be late 50’s loss.

  • Data withheld to protect military crash site on the Mojave Desert.

  • 8/29/84 Rockwell International B-1A USAF (1) fatal (2) serious Mojave Desert micro site.

  • 10/20/53 Northrop YF-89D USAF (2) fatal Mojave Desert micro site little has changed since first visit in 2000.

  • 5/5/44 Goodyear FG-1A USMC (1) fatal Santa Ana Mountains site re-visit.

  • Date unknown, type unknown, military micro site scattered on Mojave Desert.

 

September
  • 5/5/67 Vertol CH-46D USMC (4) fatal site only no wreckage

  • 1/10/10 Cessna C-340 N2217B (2) fatal micro site

  • 3/29/80 McDonnell F-4G 69-7205 (1) fatal (1) m/n micro site revisit

  • Date unknown Grumman F9F details unknown micro site revisit near Cal City

  • 10/20/73 Grumman F8F-2 N148F (1) fatal micro site  

  • 10/19/44 Goodyear FG-1A Bu No 13625 (1) fatal micro site

  • 11/8/82 Cessna T-37B 60-0084 (1) fatal micro site

October
  • 10/13/55 Boeing B-47B (4) fatal site on wilderness open space no remaining parts observed

  • 10/13/53 Boeing B-47B (3) fatal very micro on open space, but main impact area is developed land

  • 2/5/52 Boeing B-29A (3) fatal (8) serious very micro on open space and developed land

  • 4/23/46 Vought F4U-4 mid-air (1) minor (1) fatal re-visit on wilderness park

  • * 2/8/31 Douglas BT-2B (1) minor micro site found by Chris LeFave*

  • 4/18/48 Vultee BT-13B NC-60506 (2) serious re-visit after 15 years, still 80% plus remaining on site.

July
  • 9/1/58 Republic F-84F 52-6527 micro site scattered.

  • 5/5/44 Goodyear FG-1A Bu No 13712 (site protection project in cooperation with Orange County Parks Dept.)

  • 10/29/43 B-24E fly-over

  • 12/4/51 C-47D fly-over

  • 12/31/95 C-182B N2569G fly-over

  • Date unknown type unknown fly-over

  • 6/28/64 Beech Model 95 N2055C fly-over

  • 2/20/09 Cessna 172 N6443E fly-over

  • 4/9/57 TF-100C micro site

  • 8/4/81 TA-7C scattered micro site re-visit

  • 4/17/58 FJ-4B widely scattered micro site

  • 11/13/71 Hawker Sea Fury N878M “Miss Merced” very micro

  • 2/15/55 F9F-5 scattered micro site

  • 3/4/44 SNJ-4 micro site re-visit

  • 6/16/76 P-51D N69QF “Miss Susie Q” scattered micro site re-visit

Chris LeFave was pilot for all photo mission flights.
Special thanks to Walt Witherspoon & Ryan Gilmore

August
  • 11/15/97 Mooney Mk. 20 N52318 micro site

  • 4/14/80 Piper PA 28 N41384 (failed to locate in forest)

  • 1/28/95 Piper PA-28 N9602J (failed to locate in forest)

 

May
  • 1/28/41 F7F-3P re-visit and map crash site.

  • 4/23/46 F4U-4 re-visit during for another F4U-4.

  • 12/4/51 C-47D fly over of crash site.

  • 10/29/43 B-24E fly over of crash site.

  • Date unknown Fly over(2)general aviation aircraft wrecks in the San Gabriel Mountains.

June
  • 5/29/51 Stinson OY-2 Bu No 04011 USMC Santa Ana Mountains

  • 5/5/44   Goodyear FG-1A USMC re-visit Santa Ana Mountains

March
  • 4/9/43 re-visit AT-7

  • 8/14/43 RP-38E

  • 3/30/66 F9F-8T

  • Date unknown Type unknown, parts only

  • 11/29/59 re-visit Beech 35

  • 3/14/47 P-51D

  • 1940 Type not disclosed

  • 8/12/88 UH-1H search unsuccessful

 

April
  • 10/15/46 P-80A micro scattered

  • 6/27/54 KC-97G revisit

  • 1910 Airship crash site on Petrin Hill, Prague Czech Republic. Pilot was supposed to have been Jara Cimrman who stated that the accident occurred because he was talking to a passenger. I got a big surprise at this site in more ways than one.

  • 4/13/44 P-39N 1st search effort unsuccessful.

  • 4/12/51 C-47D discovered by Chris LeFave & Pat J. Macha in very difficult terrain. I flew over the site with Chris and that’s as close as I’m getting.

January
  • 2/24/58 T-33A USAF revisit

  • 9/25/45 P-38L USAAF revisit (rumors that this site has been removed are not true)

  • 4/24/63 F-104C USAF

  • 7/9/60 F-104C USAF

  • 12/6/74 F-105G USAF (rumors that this site has been removed are not true)

  • All of the above crash sites are east of Hwy 395, SE of Red Mountain, CA.

  • 9/17/42 SNJ-4 USMC Santa Ynez Mountains, CA.

  • 9/20/44 F4U-1 USMC Santa Ynez Mountains, CA.

  • 3/2/78 F-105G USAF Newbury Park, CA.

  • 3/20/99 PA-28-161 Cajon Pass, CA.

  • 12/10/06 Bell 412 Cajon Pass, CA.

February
  • 6/15/58 B-57E W Antelope Valley

  • 4/20/70 F-8H W Antelope Valley

  • 8/25/55 F-100A Victorville area

  • 10/16/52 F-51D re-visit Victorville

 

2009

November
  • 10/13/55. Boeing B-47B 51-2231 USAF in hills near March AFB, four fatal, micro site scattered over wide area.

  • 10/19/78. Boeing B-52D 56-0594 USAF four fatal, one survivor. Micro site scattered over several acres NE of Perris, CA.

  • 5/21/09. Northrop T-38A 68-8153 USAF one fatal, one survivor. Micro site, widely scattered east of Cal-City. Thanks to Ryan Gilmore.

  • 11/4/65. Northrop F-5A 63-8376 USAF non-fatal, SW Lone Pine, CA. Failed to locate crash site on first attempt.

  • 3/18/81. Beechcraft TC-45J CG-RJE two fatal near Beatty, NV. 50% plus remaining, burned. Thanks to Joe Idoni.

  • 3/29/90. North American Aviation QF-86F BuNo 8555890 USN fatal. Micro site scattered north of Trona, CA. Thanks to Tom Gossett via Ryan Gilmore.

  • Date unknown. Cessna 150 near Towne Pass in Death Valley National Park. Second visit to site, concentrated, partly burned, 25-30% remaining, unmarked. Possibly early production 150 that crashed prior to 1964, appears to have been a fatal.

  • 11/7/09. Piaseki PV-18/ HUP N183YP three fatal, near Adelanto, CA. Micro site with memorial.

  • Date unknown. North American Aviation F-86F USAF south of Adelanto, CA. Micro site, scattered, fourth visit to site over many years.

  • 1/31/05. Cessna 180 N2882A one fatal near Adelanto, CA. Micro site with memorial. Thanks to Ryan Gilmore.

  • 6/6/84. Piper PA-24 N5306Y one fatal west of Ludlow, CA. Second visit to this micro site.

  • Date unknown. Douglas A-4C USN near Ludlow, CA. First ground visit following fly-over, details being researched.

  • 1/19/45. North American Aviation P-51D44-72122 USAAF one fatal Cajon Pass, CA. Second visit to micro site burned, concentrated, unmarked.

  • 8/14/59. Beechcraft 35 N3846N four fatal Santa Monica Mountains, CA. Micro site overgrown, scattered.

December
  • 8/5/44 Re-visit USMC FG-1A (fatal) in Santa Ana Mountain foothills.

  • 8/13/43 Re-visit USAAF Beech AT-11 41-27429 (4 fatal). This micro site shows erosion of parts since my first visit in 2004. Site is near Hinkley, CA.

  • 8/4/81 LTV TA-7C USN Bu No 156777 (non-fatal), micro site SE of Cal-City thanks to information provided by Ryan Gilmore.

  • 3/20/45 Lockheed XP-80A 44-83021 USAAF “Grey Ghost” (non-fatal), micro site, visitation thanks to USAF MSgt Tony Accurso.

  • 8/22/51 Bell X-1D 48-1386 USAF (non-fatal), micro site, visitation thanks to USAF MSgt Tony Accurso.

  • 5/9/52 Martin XB-51 46-686 USAF (1 fatal), micro site, visitation thanks to USAF MSgt Tony Accurso.

  • 11/6/61 Kaman HH-43C 58-1849 USAF (non-fatal), micro site, visitation thanks to USAF MSgt Tony Accurso.

 

September

  • 10/19/78 B-52D near March AFB micro site, thanks to Ryan Gilmore

  • 1958 Aeronca 7AC SW of Shieldsville, MN. Two fatal in stall spin accident, micro site. Special thanks to Mike Hagerty

October

  • 6/23/88 Cessna 310 N170R (4) fatal, wreckage removed.

  • 1/11/87. Beech 35 CFHRR on Monrovia Peak one fatal, and wreck not located until 2/14/87. Wreckage visible from the air in heavy undergrowth near top of ridge.

  • 8/5/52. Convair B-36D 49-2661 USAF in Pacific Ocean west of San Diego two fatal. Revisit crash site thanks to Captain Ray Arntz of UB88.ORG and his dive vessel the Sundiver II. The son and grandson of flight engineer Walt Hoffman who bailed out from the stricken plane, but was never found were special guests.

  • Date unknown. Helicopter, type unknown NW of Randsberg in the northern Mojave Desert. Micro site, scattered and unmarked, thought to be fatal dating from the early 1960’s. Thanks to our guide Daniel Perrino for making this visit possible.

  • Date yet to be determined. Cessna 210  in Santa Monica Bay west of Playa Del Rey located during the search for Gertrude Tompkins Silver (On dive boat over wreck)

  • Date unknown. Type of aircraft unknown, possibly a drop tank only, NW of LAX. (On dive boat over wreckage)

  • 10/15/55. Lockheed T-33A 51-9227 USAF two fatal missing until April 2009 when UB88.ORG team located site in Santa Monica Bay. (On vessel over crash site)

July

  • 3/14/45 Vultee BT-13A 41-22019 USAAF (2) fatal micro site central San Diego County.

  • 1962? Vought F-8 USN northern San Diego County Mountains on private property, widely scattered. Special thanks to Ernie Cowan.

  • 4/3/99 Piper PA-32R N9254Q (4) fatal, San Diego County Mountains micro site.

August

Thanks to master pilot George Petterson another aerial photography was flown revisiting:

  • 2/25/44 C-46A N. flank of Pallet Mountain

  • 9/30/66 C-119G summit ridge Pallet Mountain

  • 8/13/94 C-130A west of Pallet Mountain

  • Efforts to locate 11/14/46 Western A.A. DC-3 were unsuccessful.

  • Date unknown A-4 NE of Ludlow in mountains scattered, unmarked

  • Date unknown SNJ-5 SW Big Bear Lake partly removed, visible

  • 1/2/42 B-26 on Keller Peak not visible from air, overgrown micro site

  • 2/20/09 C-172 visible, and marked
     

  • Revisit 8/5/44 F4U-1A in Santa Ana Mountains

May

  • 1/7/87 Cessna 182 near Essex.

  • 11/29/59 Beechcraft Model 35 near Kelso.

  • 6/6/04 Piper PA-23 east of Newberry Springs.

  • Date unknown Douglas A-4 visible SW of I-40 west of Ludlow.

  • 11/11/50 Beechcraft SNB-5 Bu No 29649 revisit site with two next of kin families.

  • 12/4/03. Wing Aircraft D-1 “Derringer” N8602J west of Rosamond.

  • 1/17/45. Lockheed P-38J  44-23421 NW Lancaster, site only with no parts observed.

June

  • 10/16/49 Douglas TB-26B 44-34636 USAF SW of Chino.

  • 6/10/43 Consolidated B-24E 42-7119 USAAF near Weed, CA courtesy Bruce Batchelder

  • 12/6/42 Consolidated B-24D 41-24262 USAAF near Stewarts Point, CA courtesy of Don Pedrazzini

  • 1/29/54 Grumman F9F-6 Bu No 128111 East Marin County, CA courtesy of Ranger Matt Cerkel

  • 1945 Grumman F6F USN north of Novato, CA courtesy Ranger Matt Cerkel

  • 1945 Curtiss SB2C USN mid-air near Hayfork, CA courtesy Joel Bishop

  • *11/14/45 Grumman F6F-3 Bu No 25980 USN Shasta National Forest, CA courtesy Bruce Batchelder

     

March

  • 8/5/44 USMC Goodyear FG-1A revisit site with Don Jordan.

  • 8/3/60 USMC Chance Vought F-8A Bu No 145405 thanks to Roland Vellanoweth.

  • 1/28/47. USMC Grumman F7F-3P Bu No 80427 Santa Ana Mountains thanks to Bob Pargee. Pilot was USMC WWII Ace Capt. W. J. “Gus” Thomas. 

  • June/July 1944. USN aircraft, possibly SNJ with one fatality Near Lakeside in San Diego, thanks to Dennis Richardson.
    (Special thanks to Craig Fuller for pointing me to a FM-2 north of Lakeside on a similar size mountain.)

  • 1950’s. USN aircraft, type unknown near Lakeside. Thanks to Dennis Richardson

  • Date unknown. USN Vought F-8 Anza Borrego Desert area.

  • Date unknown. USN North American T-28B/C Anza Borrego Desert area.

  • 1964/65. Hughes Model 269 N8812F west of Paso Robles, non-fatal, site only.

April

  • 7/21/08. Boeing/Vertol CH-46 USMC Santa Ana Mnts. Accidental find by P. J. Macha.

  • 5/9/63. Lockheed T2V-1 Bu No 144149 USMC. My first site visit 5/65, P. J. Macha, Tom Maloney, Pete & Heather Armes returned to find the site undisturbed.

  • 8/5/44. Goodyear FG-1A USMC revisit with Joe Idoni.

  • 5/10/82. McDonnell Douglas A-4M Bu No 160038 USMC Mojave Desert.

  • 6/3/65. McDonnell F-4B Bu No 148395 USN Mojave Desert.

  • 7/13/68. McDonnell F-4D 64-940 USAF Mojave Desert.

  • 1931 Douglas BT-2B crash site viewed from distance.

  • 9/22/43 Bell P-39Q 42-20102 at Chiriaco Summit airfield/site only.

  • 7/24/43 Consolidated B-24E 42-70099 near Blythe (Special thanks to Trey Brandt).

  • 10/4/43 Consolidated B-24E 42-40382 near Blythe (Special thanks to Trey Brandt).

  • * 6/2/84 Piper PA-31 off the Kelbaker Road by Paul and Kathy Hanson.

     

January

  • 4/17/68, Douglas A4D-1 USN Anza Borrego Desert.

  • 11/22/69. LTV F-8E Bu No 149212 VF-124 USN Anza Borrego Desert.

February

  • 8/12/88, Bell/Textron UH-1H U.S. Army Reserve.

 

2008

November

  • 7/15/97 Cessna TR-182 at Panamint Springs in D.V.
    Date unknown Cessna 150/172 at Towne Pass in D.V.

  • 10/22/56 NAA JF-100A near Beatty Junction in D.V.

  • 7/1/54 NAA X-10 Mojave Desert.

  • 8/5/44 Goodyear FG-1A Santa Ana Mnts.

  • Date unknown jet drop tank excavated on park land in Orange County, not an aircraft crash site as previously thought.

Aerial survey courtesy of master pilot George Petterson on the following sites;

  • 8/13/94 Lockheed C-130A, 9/30/66 Fairchild C-119G, 2/25/44 Curtiss C-46A, 1/26/56 NAA TB-25N.

 

December

  • 7/8/59. Douglas A4D-2 Bu No 14817 USN memorial placement at crash site on Mojave Desert.

  • Date unknown, Vought F-8 USN possibly 1964-67 loss in Wildcat Canyon east of San Diego.

  • 8/5/52. Convair B-36D #49-2661 USAF west of San Diego in Pacific Ocean. (on vessel over wreck site)

September
  • 2/11/69 Lockheed SP-2E Bu No 131487 USN return with members of pilot’s family.

  • Date unknown, but on the sixth trip to this site Ranger Tom Maloney found Goodyear stamps confirming that this aircraft is an USMC FG-1.

  • 6/5/42 Consolidated LB-30 #AL601 USAAF taken to site by Ranger Matt Cerkel.

  • 10/4/45 Vought F4U-1D Bu No 50391 USN and Goodyear FG-1A Bu No 13888 USN mid-air sites with Ranger Matt Cerkel.

  • 2/15/05 Beechcraft Model 95 N8269D I spotted the crash site on the SE ridge of Mount St. Helena.

  • 3/21/43 Bell P-39N #42-9120 USAAF site visitation with Craig Fuller, Matt Cerkel, and all special thanks to Ranger Gregg Mangan.

  • * 5/4/45 Consolidated PBY-5A Bu No 48416 USN located by Craig Fuller

October
  • 6/03/01 Piper PA-28-181 N8253W missing until 9/21/08. This site visitation was courtesy Western Helicopter & Aircraft Recovery Service.
    See complete story and pictures.

  • 10/10/62 Lockheed F-104C #56-0920 found by Ryan Gilmore. A curious aspect of this site were, three closely spaced holes dug some time ago within the impact crater.

  • 7/08/59 Douglas A4D-2 Bu No 142817 found by Deke Joralmon the pilot’s son, a memorial plaque is being planned for this site.

  • Revisit 2/08/55 Martin B-57B #52-1494 to find site substantially reduced by persons unknown.

  • 2/26/06 Aero Vochochody L-39 N39DF site located by Kelly Cowan., a memorial is already in place for both crew members.

  • Failed to reach 7/22/58 Cessna L-19A due to unexpected early snowfall.

July
  • Viewed old Cessna 172/182 wreckage SW of Markleevillle on a steep mountain face that I was unable to reach. More research is required on this site.

  • Returned to 10/3/56 Mc Donnell F3H-2N crash site with pilot Ralph “Skeeter” Carson and two of his VF-124 comrades Larry Swartz, Roger Burnell. Thanks again to the continued good efforts of Dennis Richardson.

  • Two unsuccessful search efforts for USMC Douglas SBD-5 Bu No 29029 that crashed ca 1944 in southern Orange County.

August
  • * Date unknown. Grumman TBF Avenger located in the Pacific Ocean near South Laguna Beach, CA by Dan Catalano and his son in  35’ of water.

May

  • Revisit F-86D triple mid-air site one 11/18/54
    F-86D site two (found by Cindy Macha-Skjonsby & Tim Baggerly)

  • F-86D site three (found by Tim Baggerly)
    Revisit Lockheed SP-2E USN 2/11/69 with next of kin to place small memorial container on wreckage with USFS approval

  • Revisit Beechcraft SNB-5 USMC11/21/50 to place memorial container on wreckage on behalf of next of kin with USFS approval

June

  • Two return visits to F4U (date unknown) in effort to I.D. manufacturer Vought, Goodyear or Brewster. Craig Fuller of AAIR assisted in the second visitation and he may have helped to solve this case.

  • 7/8/81 Fairchild C-119 N13742 Tanker 88 and 2/2704 Piper PA-28R-180 N76871. Both of these sites were reached on 6/28/08 thanks to the coordinating efforts of Marc Mc Donald, and expert 4x4 drivers Bill Elsenbaumer and Jason McIlhaney. Stories will be posted soon.

March

  • Lockheed SR-71A 12/20/69

  • (2) McDonnell F-4E mid-air 7/26/90

  • Curtiss P-40N 1/25/44

  • Revisit Consolidated B-24J & B-24D mid-air 9/1/44

  • Beechcraft M35 1/25/88

  • Lockheed C-130A 6/17/02

  • Possible Douglas AD Skyraider USMC crash date unknown

  • TF-51D 4/25/50 (found by Chris LeFave)

  • F-100D Date unknown (found by Chris LeFave)

April

  • * F-86A’s mid-air 9/4/56 (found by Matt Maxon)

  • McDonnell AV-8B 9/27/94

  • Revisit Grumman F7F-1 4/29/46

  • Piper PA-28 11/19/67 viewed from distance

  • Beech M-35 6/7/86

  • Lockheed C-130A 6/17/02

January

  • B-24D & B-24J USAAF mid-air 8/1/44

  • P-51D USAAF 1/19/45

  • F-51D USAF10/16/52

  • * F-86A USAF 3/16/57 found by Matt Maxon 

February

  • Revisit Lockheed SP-2E USNR 2/11/69

  • Douglas C-118 USAF site and memorial 2/1/58

 

2007

November

TB-25N USAF 1/26/56 fly over

December

F-86F USAF 3/29/54
A-4A USMC date unknown
F9F-6 USN 5/18/56

September

F4U-1D USMC date unknown
CH-46E USMC 2/12/87 

October

A-7E USN 2/12/75
QF-86F USN 1970’s
BOM-34A USN date unknown
A-7E USN date unknown
A-7E USN date unknown
A-7C USN date unknown
QF6F-5 USN date unknown 

July

Revisit C-135A USAF 6/25/67
Revisit SNB-5 USMC 11/21/50 

August

BE-95 civilian 6/7/64
B-12A USAAC 5/28/35 

May

C-135A USAF 6/25/65
(2) F4U-4 USMC mid-air 1/14/48

June

Helicopter USMC type unknown
F4U-1D USN 8/10/45

March

(2) P-38L mid-air 2/15/45
AT-7 USAAF 4/9/42
F4U-4 USN 2/24/47 

April

No entry

January

YF-4E USAF 10/16/72

February

F3D-2 USMC date unknown

 

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