On 6/26/72 two McDonnell Douglas F-4Js #158379 and #158364 USN collided over the area near Upper Centennial Flat in the Coso Range while on training flight. Both crews ejected safely. #158364 crashed and burned about one mile southeast of the tail and wing of #158379.
Entering the Coso Range. The reports I read said that the F-4J Phantoms went down somewhere in this area.
Atfer searching for over 6 hours, I'm heading for a neighboring canyon for the night. Spent this day hiking up Centennial Canyon, no luck. Did find some really nice petroglyphs at Upper Centennial Spring.
This is where I plan to spend the night. The ridge line up the canyon looks like the one in a photo I found of the crash site. Can it be???
After hiking up the canyon for just 10 mintues I found it. What luck, hard to believe.
It's the tail section from one of the F-4J fighters. It's getting dark, I'll be back tomorrow.
This is where I spent the night, just off the road. The F-4 is a short way up this canyon.
Hiking up the canyon. Had a hard time sleeping thinking about getting a better look at the tail section and what ever else that might be there.
Bones in the canyon, looks like they're from a horse. Heard that the area has wild horses.
Noticed something on the slope yesterday while at the tail. I'll check it out first.
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