Mojave NB-57E 9/7/08

The Martin NB-57E Canberra S/N 55-4267 was assigned to the 6515th Organizational Maintenance Squadron at Edwards AFB. On 6/23/71 it was scheduled for an instinctual engine out demonstration ...

2009-08-22T10:05:57Z

Joe Idoni
The Martin NB-57E Canberra S/N 55-4267 was assigned to the 6515th Organizational Maintenance Squadron at Edwards AFB. On 6/23/71 it was scheduled for an instinctual engine out demonstration ...

This Martin B-57E Canberra S/N 55-4269 is two serial numbers away from the aircraft at the crash site. (U.S. Air Force photo)

2008-09-12T06:50:47Z

Joe Idoni
This Martin B-57E Canberra S/N 55-4269 is two serial numbers away from the aircraft at the crash site. (U.S. Air Force photo)

My truck parked at the edge of the dry lakebed. I started the hike to the crash from here. I was in Death Valley the day before doing a hike to Towne Peak and decided to check out this site ...

2009-01-04T19:46:04Z

Joe Idoni
My truck parked at the edge of the dry lakebed. I started the hike to the crash from here. I was in Death Valley the day before doing a hike to Towne Peak and decided to check out this site ...

After looking around for awhile, I came upon the first piece of wreckage. It's a yellow T-handle with the word "PULL" on it.

2009-03-19T11:03:57Z

Joe Idoni
After looking around for awhile, I came upon the first piece of wreckage. It's a yellow T-handle with the word "PULL" on it.

More wreckage. I was finding single pieces scattered over a large area.

2008-09-11T13:55:26Z

Joe Idoni
More wreckage. I was finding single pieces scattered over a large area.

Push switch.

2008-09-11T13:55:26Z

Joe Idoni
Push switch.

Started finding more pieces as I looked around.

2009-03-19T10:59:47Z

Joe Idoni
Started finding more pieces as I looked around.

Connector with wires.

2009-03-19T10:59:57Z

Joe Idoni
Connector with wires.

Piece from the canopy.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Piece from the canopy.

Lot of bolts with safety wire.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Lot of bolts with safety wire.

Same piece turned over. This side is coated with rubber, looks like it might be a part from one of the fuel tanks.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Same piece turned over. This side is coated with rubber, looks like it might be a part from one of the fuel tanks.

One of the flight instruments. Think it's a fuel gauge.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
One of the flight instruments. Think it's a fuel gauge.

This might be a part from of one of the flight instruments.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
This might be a part from of one of the flight instruments.

This part had a piece wood attached to it.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
This part had a piece wood attached to it.

Piece with a deep scratch on it.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Piece with a deep scratch on it.

Still just finding small amounts of wreckage scattered over a large area. I like searching for stuff over flat open land. I'm walking around with my eyes on the ground looking up every once ...

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Still just finding small amounts of wreckage scattered over a large area. I like searching for stuff over flat open land. I'm walking around with my eyes on the ground looking up every once ...

More small pieces. This crash site is scattered over more than a hundred yard area.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
More small pieces. This crash site is scattered over more than a hundred yard area.

Found this part almost buried. I could see the words "BOTH DIRECTIONS" on it.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Found this part almost buried. I could see the words "BOTH DIRECTIONS" on it.

It must be a filter, it's manufactured by Purolator. I placed it back in it's hole.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
It must be a filter, it's manufactured by Purolator. I placed it back in it's hole.

Largest piece here is about two feet long.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Largest piece here is about two feet long.

Turning over the square piece, I could see it's honeycomb structure.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Turning over the square piece, I could see it's honeycomb structure.

This hydraulic hose had the remains of a sleeve held in place with some safety wire.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
This hydraulic hose had the remains of a sleeve held in place with some safety wire.

No idea what this might be.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
No idea what this might be.

Piece of a control cable pulley.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Piece of a control cable pulley.

Better look at the pulley. I found a few pieces like these.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Better look at the pulley. I found a few pieces like these.

Looks like a piece from one of the engines.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like a piece from one of the engines.

Two electrical connectors held togrther with safety wire.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Two electrical connectors held togrther with safety wire.

Pushrod end.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Pushrod end.

Same piece showing the broken fork.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Same piece showing the broken fork.

Another rodend.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Another rodend.

After about an hour of finding scattered pieces, I came upon a large group of wreckage.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
After about an hour of finding scattered pieces, I came upon a large group of wreckage.

I followed the trail of wreckage to the impact crater.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
I followed the trail of wreckage to the impact crater.

The NB-57E's crater. There is a lot of wreckage spread out for about a hundred feet.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
The NB-57E's crater. There is a lot of wreckage spread out for about a hundred feet.

Looks like someone gather up the larger pieces and placed them in the crater.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like someone gather up the larger pieces and placed them in the crater.

This piece had orange paint that some of the NB-57Es were trimmed with.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
This piece had orange paint that some of the NB-57Es were trimmed with.

This is like the piece I found earlier, looks like it might be the backside of a flight instrument.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
This is like the piece I found earlier, looks like it might be the backside of a flight instrument.

There were some parts from the engines at the impact area.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
There were some parts from the engines at the impact area.

Another blade from one of the engines.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Another blade from one of the engines.

Thermal insulation.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Thermal insulation.

Another engine piece.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Another engine piece.

One more blade.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
One more blade.

I've seen parts like this before, but can't figure out how it would be used???

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
I've seen parts like this before, but can't figure out how it would be used???

Part of a linkage.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Part of a linkage.

The remains of a navigation light. The wire on top is connected to the light socket.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
The remains of a navigation light. The wire on top is connected to the light socket.

I always find machined parts intresting.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
I always find machined parts intresting.

Looks like vent intake. It has a screen on the opening.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Looks like vent intake. It has a screen on the opening.

This part was half buried.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
This part was half buried.

The same part. Of all the pieces that looked at, this is the only one that I found the 272 prefix which confrims that this is the crash site of a Martin B-57.

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
The same part. Of all the pieces that looked at, this is the only one that I found the 272 prefix which confrims that this is the crash site of a Martin B-57.

Following my tire tracks back across the lakebed heading for the highway. This turned out to be a great micro site, good way to spend a few hours of the day. THE END

2009-03-19T11:09:18Z

Joe Idoni
Following my tire tracks back across the lakebed heading for the highway. This turned out to be a great micro site, good way to spend a few hours of the day. THE END

Mojave NB-57E 9/7/08

The Martin NB-57E Canberra S/N 55-4267 was assigned to the 6515th Organizational Maintenance Squadron at Edwards AFB. On 6/23/71 it was scheduled for an instinctual engine out demonstration ...

This Martin B-57E Canberra S/N 55-4269 is two serial numbers away from the aircraft at the crash site. (U.S. Air Force photo)

My truck parked at the edge of the dry lakebed. I started the hike to the crash from here. I was in Death Valley the day before doing a hike to Towne Peak and decided to check out this site ...

After looking around for awhile, I came upon the first piece of wreckage. It's a yellow T-handle with the word "PULL" on it.

More wreckage. I was finding single pieces scattered over a large area.

Push switch.

Started finding more pieces as I looked around.

Connector with wires.

Piece from the canopy.

Lot of bolts with safety wire.

Same piece turned over. This side is coated with rubber, looks like it might be a part from one of the fuel tanks.

One of the flight instruments. Think it's a fuel gauge.

This might be a part from of one of the flight instruments.

This part had a piece wood attached to it.

Piece with a deep scratch on it.

Still just finding small amounts of wreckage scattered over a large area. I like searching for stuff over flat open land. I'm walking around with my eyes on the ground looking up every once ...

More small pieces. This crash site is scattered over more than a hundred yard area.

Found this part almost buried. I could see the words "BOTH DIRECTIONS" on it.

It must be a filter, it's manufactured by Purolator. I placed it back in it's hole.

Largest piece here is about two feet long.

Turning over the square piece, I could see it's honeycomb structure.

This hydraulic hose had the remains of a sleeve held in place with some safety wire.

No idea what this might be.

Piece of a control cable pulley.

Better look at the pulley. I found a few pieces like these.

Looks like a piece from one of the engines.

Two electrical connectors held togrther with safety wire.

Pushrod end.

Same piece showing the broken fork.

Another rodend.

After about an hour of finding scattered pieces, I came upon a large group of wreckage.

I followed the trail of wreckage to the impact crater.

The NB-57E's crater. There is a lot of wreckage spread out for about a hundred feet.

Looks like someone gather up the larger pieces and placed them in the crater.

This piece had orange paint that some of the NB-57Es were trimmed with.

This is like the piece I found earlier, looks like it might be the backside of a flight instrument.

There were some parts from the engines at the impact area.

Another blade from one of the engines.

Thermal insulation.

Another engine piece.

One more blade.

I've seen parts like this before, but can't figure out how it would be used???

Part of a linkage.

More linkage parts.

The remains of a navigation light. The wire on top is connected to the light socket.

I always find machined parts intresting.

Looks like vent intake. It has a screen on the opening.

This part was half buried.

The same part. Of all the pieces that looked at, this is the only one that I found the 272 prefix which confrims that this is the crash site of a Martin B-57.

Following my tire tracks back across the lakebed heading for the highway. This turned out to be a great micro site, good way to spend a few hours of the day. THE END