PA wreck chasing A-17 and P-35: update 12-9-09

[Nathan]

Hi all,

I got some leads on a few crashes that happened within my area:

-P-35 #36-387 that crashed in 1938. The town is only 15 minutes from me.
-Northrop A-17 #35-69 that crashed in 1942. It crashed in the town I live in!
-Third is a B-18A #37-530 that crashed in 1941.

I plan on pulling the crash reports on them and see what further information I can find. Not much really to go by right now but its a start. Figured maybe some of you might be interested. I know I am getting excited!

Thanks and I will keep you all informed.

-Nathan

Last edited by Nathan on Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:15 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[daveymac82c]

Good luck Nathan,

that sounds like a fun adventure, and conveniently close too!

Have fun, stay safe, and always make sure you have permission to go into the places you're searching.

Peace,

David

[paulmcmillan]

Hi all,

I got some leads on a few crashes that happened within my area:

-P-35 #36-387 that crashed in 1938. The town is only 15 minutes from me.
(Nathan

Is this this one?

Sunday April 10th 1938

Lieutenant Eugene Brecht Jr aged 28 of Selfridge Field killed

Flying from Farmingdate Long Island to Selfridge Field, Michigan crashed Towanda, PA

[VCS1]

I would be VERY interested in the discovery of any P-35 wreckage. Parts/patterns are rare and the discovery of anything in the Seversky/Republic world would be great.

[Warbird Kid]

Sweet Nathan! Make sure to take pictures if you find anything. I need to do some research about a Corsair that crashed in my town in 42 I believe. The test pilot was Bill Boothby as the story is chronicled in "Whistling Death". Also, sadly 2 airmen in a AT-11 found there fate in Indian Ledge park in my town as well. Anybody have a metal detector they want to lend me?

[mustangdriver]

Have fun Nathan and be safe. i'd love to tag along on one of them

[TonyM]

Good Luck Nathan.
Finding your first wreck is a memorable experience.




Warbird Kid,

That AT-11 was # 42-37184 and it crashed on 23 Jan 1944. The two airmen killed were pilot 1Lt. Rodney L. Stokes and engineer Sgt. Julius G. Skyberg. The airplane flew into terrain with power while flying in instrument conditions. The pilot was not cleared to fly instruments.

TonyM.

[Warbird Kid]

Thanks for that info Tony. I remember asking about that aircraft years ago. As far as the terrain in the park, its a little hilly in that area.

The crash marker is approximately shown here in Google. Though Im not sure if thats the exact location of the crash.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8& ... 28c3572cb9>

Heres also a link to a local biker's blog. Almost at the bottom of the page is the post with pictures.
http://www.stinch.com/bikes/2008_04_ride.shtml

[Nathan]

Thanks guys! Tomarrow I plan on doing some serious research. It might be awhile before I go wood tracking. But I'll get there...

TALLY HO!!

[tom d. friedman]

nathan, email me if you need a hiking partner. i can be their in a matter of hours. you would need to coordinate w/ me so i can take the time off of work, find a hotel etc. you definetely don't want to go up into the mountains alone!! do you need a salvage permit /permission?? is this private or pa owned land?? i'd getting cracking asap soon as the snow & extreme cold are going to hit. maybe it would be prudent for you to wait till early spring? let me know..... you've got a volunteer!! ........ wow i've hit the quadrupal post number 5555

[clangjr]

What part of PA? I may be up for a little adventure as well.
Chuck

[Nathan]

Hi all,

-I found some information on the P-35 and A-17 crashes. I checked up at my local Historical society...three blocks away. They actually had a folder on the 1938 P-35 wreck. Found out the Pilot was Lt. Eugene Brecht Jr, 28. The crash site is 10 minutes from me. Said he was flying from Farmingdale NY to Selfridge Field. Info thought the cause of crash was pilot was flying at full power for a long period of time and burned a bearing during flight that caused a fire to the engine. Witnesses reported a ball of fire in the sky. The plane struck trees before crashing next to a farm house. Was reported a good section of wing found in woods and this indicates that he must have clipped the trees before crashing into the yard. Wreckage was spread out in a wide area. Witness at the farm reported trying to rescue pilot but the pilot was killed on impact. There is the name of the farm and right now and there is only one name in my local phone book with that last name. But they live in another town. So my game plan is to call them and see if they have any relation to that farm that the P-35 crashed on.

*Right now it seems since this aircraft crashed close to a house the chances of finding wreckage is probably nill. I am sure it was cleaned up. But the comments about a wing section in the woods seems a bit more promising.

-On with the other crash. Still working on the A-17. I will update you all when I find any.

Thats all I have right now and its not much. But hey, my first day at trying and I found info!

Cheers,
Nathan

Last edited by Nathan on Sun Dec 06, 2009 2:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[jdvoss]

I had read an article about a USAF B-25 that bellied into one of the rivers in the Pittsburgh area. There was a search on to determine its location a couple of years ago but never heard anything since. The crash date was roughly "mid 1950's" and (IIRC) was heading for Olmstead AFB in the Harrisburg area.

Any updates...??

[mustangdriver]

That B-25 went down in the Monongahela River. It was heading to Olmstead AFB. Weather got bad and he tried multiple approaches into KAGC Allegheny County Airport and could not make it in. He decided to try heading to another small field, but ran out of gas after going missed out of AGC. He broke out of the clouds around Homestead near Pittsburgh. An area pretty populated with railroad tracks and steel mills. The pilot found the river and opted to make it there after both engines quit due to fuel starvation. The plane passed over the Homestead high level bridge, where my friend Clair was driving home from work on, and said that the plane was not running and that the props were windmilling as it went over. It went into the river near a barge loading area. It was a good landing all things considered. The plane partly sunk but everyone made it out.
Now some people believe that the plane is still in there, while some say it was taken out. The USAF claims it was never recovered I think. Years ago while working at Air Heritage a gentleman came in while we were restoring the PBJ for the NMNA. He was with his family and they told him to tell us the story. He didn't know much about airplanes as he had worked on trains. He said he was working in a steel mill down in that area that evening, and that his boss had them warm up the steam powered crane and take it down to the scene. he said that they had an aiplane in the river, and it was tied to the docks. we raided it out of the water, and pulled it up onto land. There workers cut it apart and the loaded it onto a flat car. They said the plane had been hauling triggers for the atomic bomb. I have a hard time believeing that it is still in there as the river is just not that deep, however they did recently find a prop.

[Nathan]

Have fun Nathan and be safe. i'd love to tag along on one of them

I sent you a pm Chris regarding contact. Did you get it?