Salton Sea T-38A #58-1197 10/26/21
Read MoreOn 1/3/66 the Northrop T-38A Talon #58-1197 departed from Edwards AFB on a flight to the Naval Air Facility, El Centro to provide photo chase for a test mission that was planed for that day. After arriving to El Centro, the pilot, Capt. George J. Marrett decided to fly locally to reduce fuel load prior to landing at El Centro due to the test mission being delayed. While flying about 25 miles east of El Centro the aircraft struck a 88 foot tall transmitting tower with the left wing. The aircraft was flown to a safe altitude for assessment of the damage. The Edwards test pilot subsequently ejected at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet and sustained major injuries. The aircraft disintegrated upon ground impact, crashing in an open area southwest of the Salton Sea scattering wreckage for 1,600 feet.
We found these ten 5.56 blanks with the headstamp markings of LC 87 indicating that they were manufactured at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri in 1987. Taking a closer look, noticed that three haven’t been fire. A couple of weeks later, tried firing the live ones and they all fired after being in the desert all those years.