A recent wreck-chasing adventure, RF-4C 66-0459 Smoky Mts

[TimAPNY]

I went backpacking in the Great Smoky National Park a few week back and along the route was the crash site of an RF-4C. It crashed in January of 1984 killing both the aircrew and scattering wreckage over 20 acres or so. There were very few large pieces to be found. It appears there might be some good finds over the ridge on the Tennessee side of the mountain but we did not explore there this time. There is another military crash site in the area that I hope to go back and look for, but that is another story.

































More shots of the crash site here:
http://rides.webshots.com/album/573899149qMnaZT

Some from the hike:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/573781724ZvHbyJ

Tim

[tom d. friedman]

sad but interesting site. must have been a heck of an impact. crew ejection was not possible??, was an attempt made?? but the chutes didn't deploy??

[TimAPNY]

sad but interesting site. must have been a heck of an impact. crew ejection was not possible??, was an attempt made?? but the chutes didn't deploy??

It was a night training mission and just after the crash it snowed several inches, I think they never knew what was happening or had a chance to react.

Tim

[Holedigger]

Cool, yet, sobering at the same time. Is there a memorial to the crew set up there? Or too much red tape to do something like that on Park Service land? A little something to remind people that it is NOT just tax money that keeps our military working and the country safe, it is literally the blood of dedicated service people. Whether in training or in war time, it is a dangerous job with some risk involved.

[TimAPNY]

Cool, yet, sobering at the same time. Is there a memorial to the crew set up there? Or too much red tape to do something like that on Park Service land? A little something to remind people that it is NOT just tax money that keeps our military working and the country safe, it is literally the blood of dedicated service people. Whether in training or in war time, it is a dangerous job with some risk involved.

There is nothing but it might be worth asking the PR folks about. It is right on the trail unlike most of the others in the park.

That is something that I always remind myself at the sites the human cost of freedom even during peace time is far from cheap! It also gives me the chance to reflect back on the 2 pilots my squadron lost while I was in the unit.

Tim

[JBoyle]

A little something to remind people that it is NOT just tax money that keeps our military working and the country safe, it is literally the blood of dedicated service people. Whether in training or in war time, it is a dangerous job with some risk involved.

Hear, hear!!!
There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think about military guys that didn't live to see their retirement.
Usually it's in the morning when I'm walking out to the garage to go to work and I look to the sunrise in the East.
My home overlooks a mountain where a B-29 and two KC-135s..and all onboard them...met their end.
Sometimes when people learn I'm a vet they thank me for my service.
I feel like telling them, "Don't thank me, I was doing my job".
Those guys are the heros.