Anza-Borrego F-4B Phantom 4/3/09

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 ...

2009-08-22T09:52:47Z

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-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 cra ...

2009-04-04T10:01:41Z

Joe Idoni
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 cra ...

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

2009-04-04T05:35:02Z

Joe Idoni
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.

2009-04-04T05:38:36Z

Joe Idoni
The first piece of wreckage.

Looking around, I started finding single pieces scattered around.

2009-04-04T05:39:34Z

Joe Idoni
Looking around, I started finding single pieces scattered around.

Blade from one of the engines.

2009-04-04T05:39:59Z

Joe Idoni
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 an ...

2009-04-04T05:49:44Z

Joe Idoni
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 an ...

Another small piece.

2009-04-04T05:44:24Z

Joe Idoni
Another small piece.

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

2009-04-04T05:46:48Z

Joe Idoni
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.

2009-04-04T12:35:35Z

Joe Idoni
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.

This is the bottom side of the left wing.

2009-04-05T13:11:03Z

Joe Idoni
This is the bottom side of the left wing.

I think that this hook is used for the catapault launch bridle.

2009-04-05T14:04:01Z

Joe Idoni
I think that this hook is used for the catapault launch bridle.

A section of the leading edge.

2009-04-04T05:56:22Z

Joe Idoni
A section of the leading edge.

Tubing in the leading edge.

2009-04-04T05:56:53Z

Joe Idoni
Tubing in the leading edge.

In this view, you can see one of the main landing gears in the far side of the hole. The F-4B had it's landing gear down at the time of the accident. Can't tell how much of the wing is here, ...

2009-04-04T06:00:02Z

Joe Idoni
In this view, you can see one of the main landing gears in the far side of the hole. The F-4B had it's landing gear down at the time of the accident. Can't tell how much of the wing is here, ...

Closer look at the landing gear leg.

2009-04-04T06:01:10Z

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the landing gear leg.

I could barely see part of the gear's actuator.

2009-04-04T07:54:35Z

Joe Idoni
I could barely see part of the gear's actuator.

Moving on, I kept following the small pieces to see if I could find any other large pieces.

2009-04-04T07:55:15Z

Joe Idoni
Moving on, I kept following the small pieces to see if I could find any other large pieces.

Small electronic part.

2009-04-04T07:55:41Z

Joe Idoni
Small electronic part.

I was checking all the pieces for part numbers to confirm that this is a F-4, so far haven't found any.

2009-04-04T10:16:03Z

Joe Idoni
I was checking all the pieces for part numbers to confirm that this is a F-4, so far haven't found any.

Another engine blade.

2009-04-04T09:09:38Z

Joe Idoni
Another engine blade.

This was the first and only part number that I found at the site. The 32 indicates a F-4.

2009-04-05T02:34:49Z

Joe Idoni
This was the first and only part number that I found at the site. The 32 indicates a F-4.

A short time later, I came upon this piece of sheet metal.

2009-04-04T10:21:37Z

Joe Idoni
A short time later, I came upon this piece of sheet metal.

Taking a closer look, I could see some lettering and numbers on it.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
Taking a closer look, I could see some lettering and numbers on it.

The numbers turned out to be the last four digits of the F-4B's serial number which is 150473. I was pretty sure of this being the aircraft that I was looking for, but it's nice to find a nu ...

2009-04-05T02:37:00Z

Joe Idoni
The numbers turned out to be the last four digits of the F-4B's serial number which is 150473. I was pretty sure of this being the aircraft that I was looking for, but it's nice to find a nu ...

This piece is about two feet long.

2009-04-04T09:11:34Z

Joe Idoni
This piece is about two feet long.

Hard to see in the photo, but there is a lot of tiny pieces here, must be near the impact area.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
Hard to see in the photo, but there is a lot of tiny pieces here, must be near the impact area.

Close by I could see another hole with something showing.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
Close by I could see another hole with something showing.

It's one of the engines and a section of the fuselage.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
It's one of the engines and a section of the fuselage.

Me with one of the two General Electric J79-GE-8 engines that powered the F-4s.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
Me with one of the two General Electric J79-GE-8 engines that powered the F-4s.

What showing of the engine is the afterburner combustion chamber and the variable nozzle.

2009-04-04T10:43:01Z

Joe Idoni
What showing of the engine is the afterburner combustion chamber and the variable nozzle.

Closer look at the variable nozzle.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the variable nozzle.

Some of the afterburner plumbing.

2009-04-04T10:43:45Z

Joe Idoni
Some of the afterburner plumbing.

Can't tell if the rest of the engine is buried here.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
Can't tell if the rest of the engine is buried here.

View from the other side.

2009-04-04T09:10:49Z

Joe Idoni
View from the other side.

Couldn't figure out what this was.

2009-04-04T09:44:22Z

Joe Idoni
Couldn't figure out what this was.

Top view of the same assembly.

2009-04-04T09:43:29Z

Joe Idoni
Top view of the same assembly.

The crushed gray metal on the right is all titanium.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
The crushed gray metal on the right is all titanium.

This part was on the edge of the hole.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
This part was on the edge of the hole.

Was finding more pieces while starting the hike back to the truck.

2009-04-04T10:45:34Z

Joe Idoni
Was finding more pieces while starting the hike back to the truck.

Electrical connector.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
Electrical connector.

Parts from an old car were in the F-4B's debris field.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
Parts from an old car were in the F-4B's debris field.

Piece of a turbine blade.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
Piece of a turbine blade.

Melted plastic.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
Melted plastic.

Part of a wire harness.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
Part of a wire harness.

Last piece I found.

2009-04-04T09:41:55Z

Joe Idoni
Last piece I found.

Almost back to the truck. This site turned out to have a lot more wreckage remaining than I was expecting. Photos of the crash site of the F-8J #149212 that mid-aired with this F-4B can ...

2009-08-22T10:40:41Z

Joe Idoni
Almost back to the truck. This site turned out to have a lot more wreckage remaining than I was expecting. Photos of the crash site of the F-8J #149212 that mid-aired with this F-4B can ...