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-4B Phantom BuNo 150473.

I finally received the crash report that I requested from the Navy about two months ago. Using that information, I was able to locate the F-4B's crash site.

The information in the crash report lead me to this area. I was fairly confident about being able to locate the crash site.

The first piece of wreckage.

Looking around, I started finding single pieces scattered around.

Blade from one of the engines.

Still finding small pieces. Started thinking that the site was cleaned up and there wasn't going to be much remaining to find. The crash report stated that the F-4B crashed in a flat spin and the wreckage was confined to within a 100 yard area.

Another small piece.

Looking up, I saw what looked like a piece of sheet metal in a shallow hole.

Turned out to be one of the F-4B's wings. Looks like the wreckage was buried like that of the F-8J's engine and wings.