This accident that happened on 11/22/69 involved a flight of two Navy F-8Js with the VF-124 out of NAF El Centro and a Marine F-4B with the VMFA-513 out of MCAS El Toro. The F-8J’s mission involved parade formation practice, combat spread, tactical positioning and individual acrobatic maneuvering. The formation work was completed and they were proceeding in combat spread at 300 KIAS at 8,500 AGL toward Borrego Desert Valley. The F-4B was scheduled for a syllabus RIO training mission which included local area familiarization and flight characteristics demonstrations of the F-4B. The pilot of the F-4B had performed a clean stall and was in the process of performing a dirty stall with gear and flaps down at 150 KIAS when it flew between the F-8Js and mid-aired with one of them contacting the under side of the fuselage just behind the wing. The F-8J came apart from the violent impact and scattered wreckage over a large area. The F-4B’s nose cone and front cockpit were severely damaged incapacitating the pilot. The F-4B descended in a flat spin and exploded on impact killing the pilot. The F-4B’s RIO and F-8J’s pilot were able to eject and escaped with minor injuries.

Photo of the F-8J Cusader BuNo 149212.

While searching the web for information about another crash site that I visited, I came across a photo of a jet engine. The text on the photo gave a vague location. While heading to that area, I happen to spot something off in the distance. Decided to check it out first. It was getting late and would be dark in a couple of hours. This photo was taken as I approached what I saw from about two miles away.

From here I could see that the item I spotted was the fin from the F-8.

Better view of the fin. Finding this really surprised me. I was hoping to find the engine first and use it's location to find the rest of the wreckage.

The fin is hiding behind a big bush. It's a lot larger than it looks in this photo.

Top of the fin with the radar warning antenna fairing.

Wiring in the fairing.

Socket for a navigation light and one of the radar warning antennas.

Rear view of the fairing.