Anza-Borrego F-8J Cusader 2/21/09

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 ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:18:38 -0700

Joe Idoni
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 ...

Photo of the F-8J Cusader BuNo 149212.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:46:57 -0800

Joe Idoni
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 are ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:07 -0800

Joe Idoni
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 are ...

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:08 -0800

Joe Idoni
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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:09 -0800

Joe Idoni
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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:10 -0800

Joe Idoni
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.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:12 -0800

Joe Idoni
Top of the fin with the radar warning antenna fairing.

Wiring in the fairing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:13 -0800

Joe Idoni
Wiring in the fairing.

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

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:14 -0800

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

Rear view of the fairing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:15 -0800

Joe Idoni
Rear view of the fairing.

Another view of the fairing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:16 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another view of the fairing.

A section of skin was pealed away from the rudder exposing the end gained balsa wood core. The rudder linkage can also be seen in this shot.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:17 -0800

Joe Idoni
A section of skin was pealed away from the rudder exposing the end gained balsa wood core. The rudder linkage can also be seen in this shot.

Lower end of the fin.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:18 -0800

Joe Idoni
Lower end of the fin.

Bottom view. A piece of the fuselage bulkhead is still attached to the fin.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:19 -0800

Joe Idoni
Bottom view. A piece of the fuselage bulkhead is still attached to the fin.

Hard to see, but the numbers "212" can barely be made out.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:20 -0800

Joe Idoni
Hard to see, but the numbers "212" can barely be made out.

Linkages inside the lower leading edge.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:21 -0800

Joe Idoni
Linkages inside the lower leading edge.

One of the linkages.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:22 -0800

Joe Idoni
One of the linkages.

The part number prefix "CV" indicates that it's a Chance-Vought F-8 Crusader.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:23 -0800

Joe Idoni
The part number prefix "CV" indicates that it's a Chance-Vought F-8 Crusader.

The serial number "149212", this is the F-8J that I was searching for. Looking under the fin I could see the markings were in great shape, but it was way too heavy for me to lift to get a ph ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:24 -0800

Joe Idoni
The serial number "149212", this is the F-8J that I was searching for. Looking under the fin I could see the markings were in great shape, but it was way too heavy for me to lift to get a ph ...

The marking "NJ". This is from the Air Wing VF-124 Gunfighters USN. Sure wish I could lift this thing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:24 -0800

Joe Idoni
The marking "NJ". This is from the Air Wing VF-124 Gunfighters USN. Sure wish I could lift this thing.

The number "12" on the top of the rudder.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:25 -0800

Joe Idoni
The number "12" on the top of the rudder.

And on the very top was an insignia of a knight with a sheid and sword. Looks like someone tried to remove him.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:26 -0800

Joe Idoni
And on the very top was an insignia of a knight with a sheid and sword. Looks like someone tried to remove him.

Me with the fin gives an idea of it's size. Time to leave. The sun is about to set and I would like to find the engine before it gets dark.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:26 -0800

Joe Idoni
Me with the fin gives an idea of it's size. Time to leave. The sun is about to set and I would like to find the engine before it gets dark.

On the way back to the truck, I searched the area I thought the engine might be in for about 45 minutes before I found it. I'll spend the night nearby and return in the morning to get some p ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:28 -0800

Joe Idoni
On the way back to the truck, I searched the area I thought the engine might be in for about 45 minutes before I found it. I'll spend the night nearby and return in the morning to get some p ...

I had the laptop with me, so while eating dinner, I used a topo program to mark the locations of the fin and engine. They were a good distance apart which was a good thing. Being so far apa ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:28 -0800

Joe Idoni
I had the laptop with me, so while eating dinner, I used a topo program to mark the locations of the fin and engine. They were a good distance apart which was a good thing. Being so far apa ...

Back at the engine site that I found last night.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:30 -0800

Joe Idoni
Back at the engine site that I found last night.

It was buried, but someone has uncovered a section of it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:31 -0800

Joe Idoni
It was buried, but someone has uncovered a section of it.

Front end of the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:32 -0800

Joe Idoni
Front end of the engine.

Looks like it was buried just below the surface. Thinking that it was either the Navy or Park Service that buried it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:33 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looks like it was buried just below the surface. Thinking that it was either the Navy or Park Service that buried it.

Blued titanium.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:34 -0800

Joe Idoni
Blued titanium.

This view shows how much has been uncovered.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:35 -0800

Joe Idoni
This view shows how much has been uncovered.

There was also a section of the fuselage buried with the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:37 -0800

Joe Idoni
There was also a section of the fuselage buried with the engine.

Another view.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:38 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another view.

Fuselage section.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:39 -0800

Joe Idoni
Fuselage section.

The VF number "124" can be seen, it's upside down.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:40 -0800

Joe Idoni
The VF number "124" can be seen, it's upside down.

This hinged access panel is torn in half.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:41 -0800

Joe Idoni
This hinged access panel is torn in half.

Nearby was some pieces that were dug up.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:42 -0800

Joe Idoni
Nearby was some pieces that were dug up.

Melted fuselage piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:44 -0800

Joe Idoni
Melted fuselage piece.

Another fuselage piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:46 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another fuselage piece.

Engine part, it has a driveshaft attched.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:49 -0800

Joe Idoni
Engine part, it has a driveshaft attched.

Think this might be some type of fuel pump.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:50 -0800

Joe Idoni
Think this might be some type of fuel pump.

Small motor armature.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:51 -0800

Joe Idoni
Small motor armature.

Me with the engine, time to look for the more wreckage. Plan to beeline to the fin from here.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:53 -0800

Joe Idoni
Me with the engine, time to look for the more wreckage. Plan to beeline to the fin from here.

Piece from a canopy

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:54 -0800

Joe Idoni
Piece from a canopy

The number 38 scratched on this piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:55 -0800

Joe Idoni
The number 38 scratched on this piece.

Lot of wreckage in this area, think it's the forward fuselage section and wings.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:07:57 -0700

Joe Idoni
Lot of wreckage in this area, think it's the forward fuselage section and wings.

The left wing, looks like it was buried and someone uncovered it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:07:58 -0700

Joe Idoni
The left wing, looks like it was buried and someone uncovered it.

View from the front, looks like the other wing is under it. A section of it can be seen in the top of the photo.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:07:59 -0700

Joe Idoni
View from the front, looks like the other wing is under it. A section of it can be seen in the top of the photo.

View from the back.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:00 -0700

Joe Idoni
View from the back.

Closer look at the insignia.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:01 -0700

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the insignia.

Hinge for the folding wing tip.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:03 -0700

Joe Idoni
Hinge for the folding wing tip.

Close up of the hinge.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:03 -0700

Joe Idoni
Close up of the hinge.

Think that's a spoiler partly opened.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:04 -0700

Joe Idoni
Think that's a spoiler partly opened.

This piece is about three feet across, maybe a part of the main landing gear.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:05 -0700

Joe Idoni
This piece is about three feet across, maybe a part of the main landing gear.

No idea what this is.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:06 -0700

Joe Idoni
No idea what this is.

There was a lot of burned wreckage here.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:07 -0700

Joe Idoni
There was a lot of burned wreckage here.

This piece has the CV prefix on the part number indicating that this wreckage is from a Chance-Vought F-8.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:08 -0700

Joe Idoni
This piece has the CV prefix on the part number indicating that this wreckage is from a Chance-Vought F-8.

One of the main landing gears.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:09 -0700

Joe Idoni
One of the main landing gears.

Closer look at the wheel.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:10 -0700

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the wheel.

The brake can be seen on this side.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:11 -0700

Joe Idoni
The brake can be seen on this side.

A piece of the fuselage was still attached to it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:08:13 -0700

Joe Idoni
A piece of the fuselage was still attached to it.

A section of the wing skin. Time to hike on and see what else I can find.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:07:55 -0700

Joe Idoni
A section of the wing skin. Time to hike on and see what else I can find.

Looking back at the fin that I checked out yesterday as I hike on.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:56 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looking back at the fin that I checked out yesterday as I hike on.

Looking forward, this is a great area to be hiking in.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:36:13 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looking forward, this is a great area to be hiking in.

Found another piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:58 -0800

Joe Idoni
Found another piece.

No idea what this is, it's a box about a foot square.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:59 -0800

Joe Idoni
No idea what this is, it's a box about a foot square.

Looks like a piece from the engine.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:00 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looks like a piece from the engine.

It's the afterburner combustion chamber.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:04 -0800

Joe Idoni
It's the afterburner combustion chamber.

View of the other side.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:05 -0800

Joe Idoni
View of the other side.

Closer look at the afterburner plumbing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:06 -0800

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the afterburner plumbing.

View inside.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:07 -0800

Joe Idoni
View inside.

Looking back as I continue on.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:22:26 -0700

Joe Idoni
Looking back as I continue on.

After searching for over an hour without finding anything more, I decided to take a lunch break. A short time later this hawk came along and started flying around the area.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:09 -0800

Joe Idoni
After searching for over an hour without finding anything more, I decided to take a lunch break. A short time later this hawk came along and started flying around the area.

Then a couple of F/A18s flew over really low, only had a chance to get a photo of one of them. Love the sound of these things.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:09 -0800

Joe Idoni
Then a couple of F/A18s flew over really low, only had a chance to get a photo of one of them. Love the sound of these things.

Then this nice looking Cessna 170A cruised by. Happy to have a little air show while eating lunch. Time to hike on.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:10 -0800

Joe Idoni
Then this nice looking Cessna 170A cruised by. Happy to have a little air show while eating lunch. Time to hike on.

Decided to work my way back using a different route, hoping that there's more wreckage out here.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:22:28 -0700

Joe Idoni
Decided to work my way back using a different route, hoping that there's more wreckage out here.

Looking down into a gully, I saw what looked like a square rock.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:12 -0800

Joe Idoni
Looking down into a gully, I saw what looked like a square rock.

When I got closer I saw that it was another box like I found earlier.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:13 -0800

Joe Idoni
When I got closer I saw that it was another box like I found earlier.

After turning it over, it looked like it could be a chaff and flare dispenser.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:14 -0800

Joe Idoni
After turning it over, it looked like it could be a chaff and flare dispenser.

Close by, found this piece.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:15 -0800

Joe Idoni
Close by, found this piece.

Never seen anything like this.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:16 -0800

Joe Idoni
Never seen anything like this.

It looked like a nozzle and on the other end, four rods with fork ends.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:17 -0800

Joe Idoni
It looked like a nozzle and on the other end, four rods with fork ends.

Hiking on, I could make out something up ahead, it's near the center of the photo.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:18 -0800

Joe Idoni
Hiking on, I could make out something up ahead, it's near the center of the photo.

Turned out to be one from the tailplanes. Don't know how I missed it hiking in, must have passed within 50 yards of it.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:20 -0800

Joe Idoni
Turned out to be one from the tailplanes. Don't know how I missed it hiking in, must have passed within 50 yards of it.

Another view of the tailplane.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:21 -0800

Joe Idoni
Another view of the tailplane.

The tip was in good shape.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:22 -0800

Joe Idoni
The tip was in good shape.

Lot of damage on the root end from being torn off the aircraft.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:23 -0800

Joe Idoni
Lot of damage on the root end from being torn off the aircraft.

End view of the root end.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:24 -0800

Joe Idoni
End view of the root end.

Closer look at the tailplane pivot point and control horn.

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:52:26 -0800

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the tailplane pivot point and control horn.

Taking a wash back to the truck, it's a longer way, but I don't have to deal with the cacti and other pointy things hiking in the wash.This trip turned out better than I was hoping for. Whil ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Joe Idoni) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:22:24 -0700

Joe Idoni
Taking a wash back to the truck, it's a longer way, but I don't have to deal with the cacti and other pointy things hiking in the wash.This trip turned out better than I was hoping for. Whil ...