On 5/15/79, a flight of three F-105Gs departed George AFB, California on a local training mission. The mission, second of the day for the six flight crew members, was to include Low Level Training and Air Combat Tactics. After completion of the Low Level Training, the flight climbed to medium altitude and set up for the briefed Air Combat Tactics engagement. Number one, the mishap aircraft, was attacked by number two and maneuvered to the six o’clock position of the attacker. As he slid behind the attacker the aircraft rolled off and entered a steep driving spiral. Both crew members ejected. The Electronics Warfare Officer, Capt. Michael R. Carison successfully ejected, but suffered major injury upon landing in rugged terrain. The pilot, Capt. Will H. Carroll Jr. ejected but was fatally injured on ground impact. The aircraft was destroyed on impact with the desert floor.

Photo of the Republic F-105G Thunderchief #63-8350 that crashed on 5/15/79 in the Panamint Valley, California.

This is the spot that I started hiking from.

Didn't take long the reach the site. The first thing I noticed was a large deep impact crater.

Me inside the impact crater. This is the largest crater I've seen, looks like the Thud went in steep. The debris were scattered for over a hundred yards in about a 70 degree wedge to the north radiating from the crater. Very little wreckage was outside the wedge.

Looks like most large pieces of the aircraft have been removed, but there was hundreds of pieces of wreckage remaining.

Didn't take long to find a piece with a part number. The 57 prefix indicates it's a Republic F-105
Thunderchief.

This looks like some type of dummy missile. It's about five feet long and so heavy I couldn't move it.

Close up of the lettering, can make out the words "GUIDED MISSILE".

Think this is a piece of the fuselage with some type of mount on it.