On 4/7/44 the B-24D Liberator #42-72894 took off from the Tonopah Army Air Field on a nighttime cross country navigation flight. The take off was normal, but the airplane didn’t climb out normally, never achieving more than 300 feet AGL. The airplane was heading for rising terrain when the pilots suddenly realized the danger. Both pilots apparently pulled up in a climbing turn an instant before the collision. The right vertical stabilizer struck the ground first indicating that the airplane was in a climbing turn prior to the crash. The bomber then crashed into the mountain exploding into flames scattering wreckage on both sides of a ridge. Killed in the accident were: 2Lt. John F. Lasek, pilot; 2Lt. Richard A. Wixon, co-pilot; 2Lt. George E. Tinker, navigator; Sgt. Harold E. Salasky, engineer; SSgt. Gerald W. Hutchinson, radio operator; Cpl. Todd S. Salerno, gunner; Sgt. Howard O. Mattice, gunner; Cpl. John Covarrubias, gunner.

Driving up Hwy 395 on my way to the White Mountains to meet up with some friends that I'll be spending the weekend with.

Our campsite at the Queen Mine at just under 9,000 feet. We'll spend the night here and tomorrow while they hike to the 13,140 foot high summit of Boundary Peak, I'll head out to the B-24D crash site.

The next morning, after a hour and a half of driving I'm on the hike up to the crash site. Someone gave me the location of this site seven years ago, finally getting around to checking it out. I have no idea what I'll find here, all I know is that "it's a good site".

The first group of wreckage I came upon. The bomber struck a ridge scattering wreckage on both sides.

This was the first part that I took a close look at, no idea what it's for. Looks like a motor with a spool for cable.

Small electrical box, looks like it has coaxial connecters.

Some of the wreckage in the area.

This piece has control cable pulleys.

A turbosupercharger from one of the four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 engines that powered the B-24D.

Another view of the supercharger.

Close up of the impeller.

This is the mount for a bomb hoist, there were two of these in this area.

A piece of electrical equipment.

Sole from a shoe. Seeing this brought to mind the men that lost there lives at the site.

A bomb shackle.

Practice bomb with a shackle attached.

This six foot long structural piece was the largest piece of wreckage in this area.

The other side of the same piece. I first thought this was from the wing, but after taking a closer look, I could see that it was a section of one of the bomb racks.

Close up shows the hooks for the bomb shackles.

Pulley with quarter inch cable.

This was an interesting looking part. Didn't take the time to figure out what it is.

One of the propeller hubs and more bombs.

Another view of the prop hub.

Close up of the hub.

Another bomb, there were about twenty of these scattered over the site. At one time they must have been filled with sand, but now all of them were empty.

A piece from an engine mount and a section of exhaust manifold.

A piece from one of the engine heads with an intake valve.

Over all view of the wreckage in this area before heading down the slope to where the bomber first struck the mountain.

Found these two items placed on a rock, there about six inches long, no idea what they are.

This looks like the place the bomber first hit the mountain, with most of the wreckage carrying up on and over the ridge. This is just a short way down the slope. There was a lot small pieces of wreckage scattered here.

Pieces from an engine mount.

Parachute frame, found two of these on this slope.

Another bomb.

One of the bomb release mechanisms. The lever on the left is marked ARM and the other RELEASE. There would one of these for each bomb on the rack.

Piece of laminated armored glass. Found more pieces of this scattered in this area.

50 cal casing. Was surprised that I only found two of these at the site.

Piece of an engine mount.

More bombs.

Hiking down the slope, found what looks like a piece from an engine nacelle.

Farther down, another nacelle piece. Looks like one of the engines might have rolled down the slope leaving pieces behind.

I could see a piece of wreckage at the bottom of the slope, but couldn't make out what it was from this distance.

Came upon more of the stainless steel pieces as I hiked down towards the unknown wreckage.

Another of the turbosuperchargers, this is what I spotted from above.

View of the other side.

Damaged turbine.

Me with the supercharger at the bottom of the slope.

Another piece from the nacelle was in the canyon.