C-47A #43-30676 9/15/07

On 3/16/45 while on a flight from March Field, to Minter Field, California, the C-47A #43-30676 crashed in IFR conditions while returning to home base after completing a freight run. None of ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:53:44 -0700

Joe Idoni
On 3/16/45 while on a flight from March Field, to Minter Field, California, the C-47A #43-30676 crashed in IFR conditions while returning to home base after completing a freight run. None of ...

My camp spot at the trailhead Friday night. Tom Gossett is going to met me here tomorrow for the hike to the C-47 site. I feel our chances of locating the site are pretty good due to having ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:46:53 -0700

Joe Idoni
My camp spot at the trailhead Friday night. Tom Gossett is going to met me here tomorrow for the hike to the C-47 site. I feel our chances of locating the site are pretty good due to having ...

The next morning Tom arrived. We are ready for the hike to the site.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:46:55 -0700

Joe Idoni
The next morning Tom arrived. We are ready for the hike to the site.

After a short distance we arrived at a lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:46:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
After a short distance we arrived at a lake.

Tom is at the bottom of photo. We climbed up this slope to the low spot. It's a lot higher than it looks.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:46:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tom is at the bottom of photo. We climbed up this slope to the low spot. It's a lot higher than it looks.

Looking back on lake as we start up the slope.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:00 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking back on lake as we start up the slope.

One of the four deer we saw on the hike. This shot also shows how steep the slope is.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the four deer we saw on the hike. This shot also shows how steep the slope is.

After hiking up the slope for an hour and a half the top still looked far. The Slope gets really steep near the top. This hike is going to be a lot harder than I expected it to be.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:03 -0700

Joe Idoni
After hiking up the slope for an hour and a half the top still looked far. The Slope gets really steep near the top. This hike is going to be a lot harder than I expected it to be.

Looking down after climbing over the steepest section. The green area is a grove of aspens just starting to get their fall colors.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:05 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking down after climbing over the steepest section. The green area is a grove of aspens just starting to get their fall colors.

Tom with the first piece of wreckage we came upon. We were both happy to find it. Took us awhile to get to this point.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:06 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tom with the first piece of wreckage we came upon. We were both happy to find it. Took us awhile to get to this point.

The first part we found was some type of motor.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:08 -0700

Joe Idoni
The first part we found was some type of motor.

One of the tags on the motor.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:10 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the tags on the motor.

Close by was this piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:11 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close by was this piece.

Same piece turned over. There is an actuator with a linkage connecting what looked like four latches.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:14 -0700

Joe Idoni
Same piece turned over. There is an actuator with a linkage connecting what looked like four latches.

Closer look at the actuator and linkage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:18 -0700

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the actuator and linkage.

About a hundred feet away was one of the artificial horizons.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:20 -0700

Joe Idoni
About a hundred feet away was one of the artificial horizons.

A little further up we came upon a section of wing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:22 -0700

Joe Idoni
A little further up we came upon a section of wing.

It was one of the outer wing sections.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:24 -0700

Joe Idoni
It was one of the outer wing sections.

Part of the insignia near the wing tip.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:31 -0700

Joe Idoni
Part of the insignia near the wing tip.

Next the the wing section was a piece of the deicing boot.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:35 -0700

Joe Idoni
Next the the wing section was a piece of the deicing boot.

In the same area were pieces of the fuselage. The large piece has a window opening.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:37 -0700

Joe Idoni
In the same area were pieces of the fuselage. The large piece has a window opening.

Looking back down as we hike further up.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:42 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking back down as we hike further up.

Tom making his way to another section of wing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:44 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tom making his way to another section of wing.

This is another piece of the outer section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:47 -0700

Joe Idoni
This is another piece of the outer section.

This is where the outer section connects to the mid wing section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:49 -0700

Joe Idoni
This is where the outer section connects to the mid wing section.

Me and Tom with one of the props. We never did find the other one.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:47:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
Me and Tom with one of the props. We never did find the other one.

Close up of the prop hub.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close up of the prop hub.

Further up was a large pile of wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:06 -0700

Joe Idoni
Further up was a large pile of wreckage.

A piece of one of the engine nacelles.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:09 -0700

Joe Idoni
A piece of one of the engine nacelles.

Think this is a piece of one of the flaps.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:13 -0700

Joe Idoni
Think this is a piece of one of the flaps.

Me with another outer wing sention and other pieces.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:16 -0700

Joe Idoni
Me with another outer wing sention and other pieces.

Close up of some of the wing's structure.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:18 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close up of some of the wing's structure.

Tubing and AN fittings.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:20 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tubing and AN fittings.

A piece of the mid wing section is still attched to the outer section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:37 -0700

Joe Idoni
A piece of the mid wing section is still attched to the outer section.

More wreckage in the area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:22 -0700

Joe Idoni
More wreckage in the area.

The wreckage is in a gully that has a series of steps.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:27 -0700

Joe Idoni
The wreckage is in a gully that has a series of steps.

View of the wreckage as we hike on.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:39 -0700

Joe Idoni
View of the wreckage as we hike on.

From higher up we could see this yellow X painted on the ground. Must be to mark area as a known crash site, none of the wreckage was marked.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:43 -0700

Joe Idoni
From higher up we could see this yellow X painted on the ground. Must be to mark area as a known crash site, none of the wreckage was marked.

We finally found the piece that I was able to spot from the peak a few weeks ago. The piece, turned out to be the wing's center section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:46 -0700

Joe Idoni
We finally found the piece that I was able to spot from the peak a few weeks ago. The piece, turned out to be the wing's center section.

A few weeks ago, I took this shot from a mountain peak showing the location of the center section 2,000 feet below. It also shows how the valley drops off steeply to the lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:49 -0700

Joe Idoni
A few weeks ago, I took this shot from a mountain peak showing the location of the center section 2,000 feet below. It also shows how the valley drops off steeply to the lake.

Tom standing on the center section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:52 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tom standing on the center section.

Below the center section was this wreckage. The crash report shows a photo of the tail end of the fuselage pretty much intact. Looks like it was dynamited.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:56 -0700

Joe Idoni
Below the center section was this wreckage. The crash report shows a photo of the tail end of the fuselage pretty much intact. Looks like it was dynamited.

A piece of one of the engine nacelles.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:00 -0700

Joe Idoni
A piece of one of the engine nacelles.

Another view of the nacelle.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the nacelle.

Piece of fuselage with two window openings.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:03 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of fuselage with two window openings.

The wing scetion. You can see where the fuselage would be in the center and where the two engine nacelles were located.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
The wing scetion. You can see where the fuselage would be in the center and where the two engine nacelles were located.

Closer view of where one of the engines was located.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:10 -0700

Joe Idoni
Closer view of where one of the engines was located.

Rear view showing the joint for the outer wing section. Noticed that only the outer sections of the wing were painted green.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:13 -0700

Joe Idoni
Rear view showing the joint for the outer wing section. Noticed that only the outer sections of the wing were painted green.

Center of wing where the fuselage would be located.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:15 -0700

Joe Idoni
Center of wing where the fuselage would be located.

Tubing inside the wing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:17 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tubing inside the wing.

The area where the other engine would be mounted.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:18 -0700

Joe Idoni
The area where the other engine would be mounted.

Just below the wing was one of the the horizontal stabs with it's elevator folded over.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:20 -0700

Joe Idoni
Just below the wing was one of the the horizontal stabs with it's elevator folded over.

View of of stab's tip.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:21 -0700

Joe Idoni
View of of stab's tip.

Looking back on the wing section as I look around for more wreckage.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:23 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking back on the wing section as I look around for more wreckage.

Only found a few pieces above the wing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:25 -0700

Joe Idoni
Only found a few pieces above the wing.

When we started hiking back down, we climbed up on the slope above the wreckage. We saw shinny stuff behind the trees from below.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:29 -0700

Joe Idoni
When we started hiking back down, we climbed up on the slope above the wreckage. We saw shinny stuff behind the trees from below.

Zoomed in on the wreckage below as we traverse the slope above it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:33 -0700

Joe Idoni
Zoomed in on the wreckage below as we traverse the slope above it.

I crossed a liitle higher than Tom to check for stuff that might be in the trees. Found more pieces of the fuselage in a few places.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:35 -0700

Joe Idoni
I crossed a liitle higher than Tom to check for stuff that might be in the trees. Found more pieces of the fuselage in a few places.

Tom approaching the large pile of wreckage we spotted from below.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:42 -0700

Joe Idoni
Tom approaching the large pile of wreckage we spotted from below.

Looks like there is a lot of stuff here.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:45 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looks like there is a lot of stuff here.

The piece in the center had a handle on it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:51 -0700

Joe Idoni
The piece in the center had a handle on it.

Lifting it up saw that it was a door. The lettering on it reads "NO SMOKING EXCEPT IN FLIGHT". Think that it might be the door to the cockpit.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:49:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
Lifting it up saw that it was a door. The lettering on it reads "NO SMOKING EXCEPT IN FLIGHT". Think that it might be the door to the cockpit.

Piece of fuselage with part of the star insignia.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:00 -0700

Joe Idoni
Piece of fuselage with part of the star insignia.

Think this is the tip from one of the horizontal stabs.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
Think this is the tip from one of the horizontal stabs.

Pieces of one of the ailerons.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:06 -0700

Joe Idoni
Pieces of one of the ailerons.

Aileron hinge.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:09 -0700

Joe Idoni
Aileron hinge.

Some fabric still remains after 62 years.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:13 -0700

Joe Idoni
Some fabric still remains after 62 years.

Another view of the aileron.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:15 -0700

Joe Idoni
Another view of the aileron.

We thought this piece might be part of the C-47's floor with tie downs.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:17 -0700

Joe Idoni
We thought this piece might be part of the C-47's floor with tie downs.

Found this photo of a C-47 showing that the piece is actually from the seats. The loops look like they are for seatbelts.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:25 -0700

Joe Idoni
Found this photo of a C-47 showing that the piece is actually from the seats. The loops look like they are for seatbelts.

Closer look at the loops.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:27 -0700

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the loops.

One of the wing tips. The area where the alileron was can be seen. This was the last area of wreckage we found. We never did find the engines, landing gear, tires or the other prop.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:30 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the wing tips. The area where the alileron was can be seen. This was the last area of wreckage we found. We never did find the engines, landing gear, tires or the other prop.

Heading back down to the lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:32 -0700

Joe Idoni
Heading back down to the lake.

Back at the lake.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:36 -0700

Joe Idoni
Back at the lake.

Looking across the lake to the area that holds the wreckage of the C-47.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:33:04 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looking across the lake to the area that holds the wreckage of the C-47.

We had to hike over a ridge to get back to where we parked.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:42 -0700

Joe Idoni
We had to hike over a ridge to get back to where we parked.

Almost back to the vehicles.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:44 -0700

Joe Idoni
Almost back to the vehicles.

Driving down to Hwy 395. This was a fun trip. We had great weather and the crash site had a lot of interesting stuff. Thanks to Craig Fuller of AAIR who without his help we wouldn't been ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:50:48 -0700

Joe Idoni
Driving down to Hwy 395. This was a fun trip. We had great weather and the crash site had a lot of interesting stuff. Thanks to Craig Fuller of AAIR who without his help we wouldn't been ...