Sierra Mountains F2H-3 Banshee 7/14/07

On 8/2/56 two McDonnell F2H-3 Banshees from Alameda NAS were maneuvering through the Owens Valley and steep canyons of the Sierra Mountains. For reasons unknown (to me anyway) #126341 cras ...

2009-08-22T10:23:26Z

Joe Idoni
On 8/2/56 two McDonnell F2H-3 Banshees from Alameda NAS were maneuvering through the Owens Valley and steep canyons of the Sierra Mountains. For reasons unknown (to me anyway) #126341 cras ...

Driving up the dirt road that leads to the start of the hike. The surface of the road was in good shape, but it was really narrow in places and there were a few spots where big rocks fell o ...

2009-06-25T14:04:26Z

Joe Idoni
Driving up the dirt road that leads to the start of the hike. The surface of the road was in good shape, but it was really narrow in places and there were a few spots where big rocks fell o ...

This is the place I started the hike from.

2009-03-22T06:58:32Z

Joe Idoni
This is the place I started the hike from.

Hiking up a steep canyon.

2009-03-22T06:58:53Z

Joe Idoni
Hiking up a steep canyon.

After the steep section, it flatten out a lot but was rocky in places.

2009-06-25T14:10:01Z

Joe Idoni
After the steep section, it flatten out a lot but was rocky in places.

After a few hours of hiking, I'm above tree line. In the distance I could see something that I was hoping turns out to be the wing.

2009-03-22T06:59:22Z

Joe Idoni
After a few hours of hiking, I'm above tree line. In the distance I could see something that I was hoping turns out to be the wing.

Always feels good to find the first piece of airplane.

2009-03-22T06:59:45Z

Joe Idoni
Always feels good to find the first piece of airplane.

The wing section that Tom G found last year.

2009-03-22T07:00:15Z

Joe Idoni
The wing section that Tom G found last year.

Closer view of the wing.

2009-03-22T07:00:27Z

Joe Idoni
Closer view of the wing.

It's the left wing. This view is of the bottom side showing the wheel well.

2009-06-25T14:06:34Z

Joe Idoni
It's the left wing. This view is of the bottom side showing the wheel well.

Wing from the rear.

2009-06-25T14:02:47Z

Joe Idoni
Wing from the rear.

The airbrake from the back.

2009-06-25T14:05:49Z

Joe Idoni
The airbrake from the back.

Same airbrake fron the front showing part of the linkage.

2009-06-25T14:08:49Z

Joe Idoni
Same airbrake fron the front showing part of the linkage.

Wiring harness in the wheel well.

2009-06-25T14:08:30Z

Joe Idoni
Wiring harness in the wheel well.

Latch, thinking that it might be for the landing gear.

2009-06-25T14:04:55Z

Joe Idoni
Latch, thinking that it might be for the landing gear.

The wingtip was torn off. The place where one of the weapons racks was mounted can be seen.

2009-06-25T14:08:26Z

Joe Idoni
The wingtip was torn off. The place where one of the weapons racks was mounted can be seen.

Part of the folding wing joint.

2009-06-25T14:09:54Z

Joe Idoni
Part of the folding wing joint.

Root section.

2009-06-25T14:12:54Z

Joe Idoni
Root section.

This is one of the few pieces that were in the area.

2009-06-25T14:10:26Z

Joe Idoni
This is one of the few pieces that were in the area.

Me with the wing before heading off to search for the main crash site.

2009-03-22T07:01:20Z

Joe Idoni
Me with the wing before heading off to search for the main crash site.

Moving in the direction I believed will lead to the site, started find single pieces.

2009-06-25T14:03:24Z

Joe Idoni
Moving in the direction I believed will lead to the site, started find single pieces.

Looks like the piece is from the cockpit.

2009-06-25T14:12:29Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like the piece is from the cockpit.

Turning it over saw a pilot's name "CDR NICHOLSON". Don't know if he was the guy flying the Banshee when it crashed.

2009-06-25T14:27:57Z

Joe Idoni
Turning it over saw a pilot's name "CDR NICHOLSON". Don't know if he was the guy flying the Banshee when it crashed.

Close up of the same part shows a piece of the forward part of the canopy. This piece is from the left side of the fuselage just below the canopy.

2009-06-25T14:06:49Z

Joe Idoni
Close up of the same part shows a piece of the forward part of the canopy. This piece is from the left side of the fuselage just below the canopy.

This is the fourth piece I found in the rocks.

2009-03-22T07:02:13Z

Joe Idoni
This is the fourth piece I found in the rocks.

My first view of the crash site. The wreckage is in two piles.

2009-03-22T07:02:55Z

Joe Idoni
My first view of the crash site. The wreckage is in two piles.

This view of the first pile doesn't show just how much stuff is here.

2009-06-25T14:09:27Z

Joe Idoni
This view of the first pile doesn't show just how much stuff is here.

Same pile from the other side. Looks like the wreckage was gathered up and put in two piles. There is hundreds of pieces here.

2009-06-25T14:17:50Z

Joe Idoni
Same pile from the other side. Looks like the wreckage was gathered up and put in two piles. There is hundreds of pieces here.

The track from the ejection seat is in the center of photo. Think that this might be the impact crater that has been filled with wreckage.

2009-06-25T14:06:11Z

Joe Idoni
The track from the ejection seat is in the center of photo. Think that this might be the impact crater that has been filled with wreckage.

Looking into the pile.

2009-06-25T14:22:32Z

Joe Idoni
Looking into the pile.

This was the largest piece of the fuselage other than what remained with the tail.

2009-06-25T14:05:43Z

Joe Idoni
This was the largest piece of the fuselage other than what remained with the tail.

After getting home and looking through the photos saw this panel with "#401 port " writen on it. The plane's number may be 401.

2009-06-25T12:40:24Z

Joe Idoni
After getting home and looking through the photos saw this panel with "#401 port " writen on it. The plane's number may be 401.

A piece of electrical equipment.

2009-06-25T14:08:39Z

Joe Idoni
A piece of electrical equipment.

No idea what this might be.

2009-06-25T14:12:48Z

Joe Idoni
No idea what this might be.

One of the few ID plates that I saw.

2009-06-25T14:08:15Z

Joe Idoni
One of the few ID plates that I saw.

What looks like an oxygen bottle, found two of these at the site.

2009-06-25T14:16:06Z

Joe Idoni
What looks like an oxygen bottle, found two of these at the site.

Engine parts.

2009-06-25T14:09:51Z

Joe Idoni
Engine parts.

Flight instrument housings.

2009-06-25T14:12:36Z

Joe Idoni
Flight instrument housings.

Piece of a instrument panel.

2009-06-25T14:04:16Z

Joe Idoni
Piece of a instrument panel.

The tire from the left main gear.

2009-06-25T14:07:42Z

Joe Idoni
The tire from the left main gear.

The nose gear was on the rocks nearby.

2009-06-25T14:08:40Z

Joe Idoni
The nose gear was on the rocks nearby.

Tail end of the canopy. The bar attached to it has and flat gear on it. Must be part of the mechanism that opens and closes the canopy.

2009-06-25T14:13:16Z

Joe Idoni
Tail end of the canopy. The bar attached to it has and flat gear on it. Must be part of the mechanism that opens and closes the canopy.

Part of the frame to the windsheid of the canopy.

2009-06-25T14:05:48Z

Joe Idoni
Part of the frame to the windsheid of the canopy.

Less than a hundred feet away was the tail.

2009-03-22T07:04:58Z

Joe Idoni
Less than a hundred feet away was the tail.

Was surprised to find the tail in such good shape. There is a lot more stuff here. Looks like most of the Banshee is at the site.

2009-06-25T14:07:56Z

Joe Idoni
Was surprised to find the tail in such good shape. There is a lot more stuff here. Looks like most of the Banshee is at the site.

Overall view of the crash site. I don't know now this plane crashed, but looks like the left wing came off in the air. It's about a quarted mile away.

2009-06-25T14:06:17Z

Joe Idoni
Overall view of the crash site. I don't know now this plane crashed, but looks like the left wing came off in the air. It's about a quarted mile away.

Me with the tail.

2009-06-25T14:08:20Z

Joe Idoni
Me with the tail.

Another view of the tail. The right stab made it through the crash with only a dent on the leading edge.

2009-03-22T07:05:11Z

Joe Idoni
Another view of the tail. The right stab made it through the crash with only a dent on the leading edge.

Dent on the leading edge, nose wheel and counter balance for the elevator.

2009-06-25T14:03:17Z

Joe Idoni
Dent on the leading edge, nose wheel and counter balance for the elevator.

Lettering on nose wheel.

2009-06-25T14:07:06Z

Joe Idoni
Lettering on nose wheel.

Looking under the stab at the Banshee's model and serial number.

2009-06-25T14:04:39Z

Joe Idoni
Looking under the stab at the Banshee's model and serial number.

Top view of the right stab.

2009-06-25T14:07:50Z

Joe Idoni
Top view of the right stab.

This rear view shows the dihedral in the stab and the folded over fin and rudder.

2009-06-25T14:07:53Z

Joe Idoni
This rear view shows the dihedral in the stab and the folded over fin and rudder.

Closer look at the fin and rudder.

2009-06-25T14:05:06Z

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the fin and rudder.

This is piece of right wing skin from just above the engine.

2009-06-25T14:12:27Z

Joe Idoni
This is piece of right wing skin from just above the engine.

Part of the compressor section from one of the two Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbojets.

2009-06-25T14:10:15Z

Joe Idoni
Part of the compressor section from one of the two Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbojets.

Tail end of the engine.

2009-06-25T14:19:06Z

Joe Idoni
Tail end of the engine.

There were a lot of pieces from the canopy scattered around.

2009-06-25T14:13:48Z

Joe Idoni
There were a lot of pieces from the canopy scattered around.

Panel with switches.

2009-06-25T14:09:35Z

Joe Idoni
Panel with switches.

One of the two ammunition boxes that were at the site.

2009-06-25T14:10:48Z

Joe Idoni
One of the two ammunition boxes that were at the site.

Tag on ammo box.

2009-06-25T14:09:56Z

Joe Idoni
Tag on ammo box.

Piece of a ammo chute.

2009-06-25T14:07:24Z

Joe Idoni
Piece of a ammo chute.

Me with one of the US insignias.

2009-03-22T07:06:37Z

Joe Idoni
Me with one of the US insignias.

Last look as I start the hike down.

2009-03-22T07:07:06Z

Joe Idoni
Last look as I start the hike down.

Back down at the wing.

2009-06-25T14:09:42Z

Joe Idoni
Back down at the wing.

Almost back to the truck.

2009-03-22T07:07:39Z

Joe Idoni
Almost back to the truck.

Driving down the dirt road. This was one of the better crash sites that I've visited. Lot of interesting wreckage and great views. THE END

2009-06-25T14:13:30Z

Joe Idoni
Driving down the dirt road. This was one of the better crash sites that I've visited. Lot of interesting wreckage and great views. THE END