Wreckchasing Message Board

Wreck Chaser David Schurhammer

288ahunter — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:20:30 GMT

David A, Schurhammer so Cal Wreck Chaser, if you know or do anything with him you should check out Megan`s Law web site and search his name.
I am the victims Father and i have been looking for ways to inform folks he is involved with. I have informed a number of his fellow Wreck Chasers as to his true self, for over 2 years now. your group of people have been very open to the information and many have chosen to exclude D.S. from their activity. in the end the choice is yours. TIA

He FLEW this one!

Dennis — Thur, 05 Nov 2009 00:23:49 GMT

Igot this in an email a cuople of days ago, but couldn't open it. Had to look it up. http://www.zrxoa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=223355 Hope I got it right. Dennis

Helicopter crashes on ship

Warbirder — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:56:52 GMT

This is an older 30-second clip but is the first time I've seen it.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/3221399/9097937

The Night it Rained P-40s in Marin County, CA

Tamranger — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:56:27 GMT

Today, November 2nd, is the 68th Anniversary of three P-40 Warhawks of the 57th Pursuit Group crashing in Marin County.

The US Army Air Forces 57th Pursuit Group was based at Windsor Lock (Bradley) Field, CT. The 57th flew P-40 Warhawks, the aircraft made famous by the American Volunteer Group (The Flying Tigers) in China. The 57th started an ill-fated cross country training mission on October 18th with 25 P-40s. By the time they reached March Field in southern California only 21 aircraft remained airworthy. On October 24th a flight of 19 P-40s left March Field for McClellan Field near Sacramento. They encountered poor weather over the Sierra that day and only 5 P-40s safely made it to McClellan. Nine aircraft made forced landings across central California and western Nevada. The remaining 5 aircraft crashed and 2 pilots were killed.

On November 2nd 1941, history repeated for the 57th Pursuit Group. That day with only 13 aircraft remaining airworthy the 57th took off from Medford, OR on a flight to Fresno. Once again they encountered poor weather and six of the 13 P-40s became lost. Three of the Warhawks ended up over Marin after the element leader, Lt. Thomas Bud L. Truax, lost sight of the flight while he switched fuel tanks over the Central Valley.

The other two pilots were Lt. Walter Radovich and Lt. Russell E. Speckman. They were unaware they were only a few miles from safety at Hamilton Field. They flew low over San Rafael and the Ross Valley. One witness remembered hearing roar of the P-40s flying below his hillside house in Kentfield!

Sensing the danger, Lt. Radovich separated from the others. He flew north passing the Marin County Courthouse in downtown San Rafael, clipped a tree and climbed to a safer elevation. After climbing to 2500 feet, Lt. Radovich decided to bailout. At the time, he was over the Lucas Valley area. Lt. Radovich broke his left leg when he struck the horizontal stabilizer on exiting his plane. After landing, he crawled for two hours before reaching Lucas Valley Road where he was rescued. He was taken to the hospital at Hamilton Field. It took Lt. Radovich seven months to recover from his injuries and return to flight status.

The other two P-40s flew so low that residents of San Rafael and San Anselmo feared they would crash in town. The witness mentioned earlier recalled hearing two thumps and immediately the roar of the P-40s stopped. The thumps were the Warhawks crashing near the top of Bald Hill at 5:35 PM. They hit about 30 feet apart. Both Lt. Speckman and Lt. Truax were killed instantly.

After the death of four pilots and the loss of eight aircraft, there was a great deal public uproar. One newspaper editor asked: Why ask air corps pilots to risk their lives to prepare to defend their country, and fail to take every precaution to see that they are not killed before they have a chance to defend it? After all the nation wasnt at war! A little more then a month later on December 7th, 1941, the United States was at war.

In the hours and days after the crash on Baldy many Ross Valley residents visited the crash site. The witness who lived in Kentfield visited the site the day after the crash and found the fuel tank selector switch and land gear instructional plate from the cockpit of one of the P-40s. Was it the switch Lt. Truax used when he lost sight of the remainder of the flight? The witness donated these items to MMWDs historical archives early this year. Also with his help and a recently discovered 1946 aerial photo the actual crash site was rediscovered in July of this year just off the Mount Tamalpais Watershed on Bald Hill.

After the investigation what was left of the 57th Pursuit Group returned to Windsor Locks Field, CT. In 1942 the 57th Pursuit Group was redesignated the 57th Fighter Group. The 57th served with distinction in North Africa and Italy flying P-40s and later P-47 Thunderbolts. Lt. Speckman was buried in Ottawa, IL. Lt. Truax was survived by his wife Iona and was buried in his hometown of Madison, WS. The Army Air Field at Madison was renamed Truax Field in Lt. Truaxs honor and is still active as Madisons Regional Airport and Air National Guard Base. Lt. Radovich recovered from his injuries and eventually reached the rank of Major. Major Radovich was awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, British Distinguished Flying Cross, the American Air Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Invasion Arrow, and two campaign stars. After the war he returned to California, married and had 5 children. He passed away in 2006.

http://picasaweb.google.com/TamRanger/BaldHillP40CS#

White Knight Cherokee N9222J Site Visit

Mtflyer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:07:43 GMT

Last Saturday I finally got around to hiking to the Piper Cherokee N9222J that crashed on 11/19/67 in the southern Sierra mountains. I had a good idea where the main crash site was located, due to it's general location was given to me a few years ago, but wasnt sure how much wreckage remained at the site. Photos at http://joeidoni.smugmug.com/Aircraft-Crash-Sites/Sierra-Mountains-Piper/10173139_RM5bH

Joe

Vermont B-24 wreck story

DaveTrojan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:04:29 GMT

Vermont B-24 wreck story

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091016/NEWS02/91016003

Coast Guard C-130 and Marine AH-1 collide off Cali coast

MHensarling — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:57:40 GMT

9 airmen currently reported missing after mid-air collision over California coast last night (10/29).

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/30/california.midair.collision/index.html

Vultee BT-13 crash in Catalina Mountains/ Tucson, AZ

TreyB — Thur, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:06 GMT

Went up with Mike Hebert and found this Vultee Vibrator high atop the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. Talk about a helluva hike- about 7 miles each way with a 3,000 foot elevation gain.
Very interesting crash in that the investigators really had no idea how the plane ended up where it did as the instructor was to serve as lookout for the student flying under the hood. They guessed that the pilot must had fallen asleep in the front seat and was awoken by the heavy canyon air drafts just before they hit. When he tried to turn the plane, he banked the plane in a dive and clipped some trees and crashed.
Trey

http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/Vultee%20BT-13%20Valiant.htm

Remains of Long-Missing WWII Airman Given to Family in California

sgbofav — Thur, 29 Oct 2009 04:31:49 GMT

Great ending to a 65 year quest. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,570127,00.html

Jet in the woods NC

DaveTrojan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:59:34 GMT

Copied in part from WIX. See a 1997 photo by Paul Cotrufo of a Grumman F-11 Tiger (BuNo. 138639), which sits where it was dropped in the woods one mile west-southwest of Oak Grove North Carolina. His explanation about the Tiger: "It was being airlifted to a museum in SC and something went wrong with the helicopter and they dropped the plane to keep from crashing.

To all wreck chasers in the area. you better act quick, there is talk about another recovery attempt

Flying Aircraft Carrier - 1955

FCEng — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:54:07 GMT

Now this is a unique idea. Essentially a flying aircraft carrier. I especially like the description of how maintainers would work in pressurized suits on the hangar decks. If it ever crashed, there would be a lot of wreckage to look for!

Interesting Amelia Earhart article

sgbofav — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:01:22 GMT

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/10/23/amelia-earhart.html

Afghanistan Mi-8 Helicopter wreck

DaveTrojan — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:30:09 GMT

On August 25, 1979 the crew of helicopter Mi-8 ?275 of Afghanistan Sky Forces made a flight to Khunar province, Bar-Khunar district to disposition of the government armed forces near Asmar. The crew didnt know that the day before Asmar garrison had gone over to rebel forces side. So as soon as the helicopter landed it was occupied and the crew were captured. At night the pilots managed to graft the guards and escape. As there were no pilots among the rebels, they placed the helicopter on the outskirts of the village thinking it was of no use. A Long time passed before they could use the helicopter. After the Soviet Army entered Afghanistan that helicopter was used for making photos to show rebels successes. That helicopter ?275 appeared in magazines and newspapers with at least 10 different cutlines and dates.
So it was never shot down, it was claimed to have been shot down over 10 times and the rebels are still making use of it. This gives wreckchasing a new meaning.
DaveT

plane tractor photo

DaveTrojan — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:51:56 GMT

Does anyone know the story behind this photo?

All that hard work in the farm field and they go and mess it up!
DaveT

F-89 Collision Olympic Mtns.

243mhz — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:30:36 GMT

I am trying to track down the tail numbers for 2 F-89's that collided over the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State on 10/4/56. Both aircraft ended up crashing near Mt. Olympus, I have been able to track down some info but have not had any luck finding the tail numbers, if someone hear happens to know I would be happy to hear.