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china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84fs.

Wed Nov 15, 2023 2:09 pm

There are still f9f cougar wrecks all over China Lake and still a few b-29 hulks. You can definitely see f9f wings and fuselages. lots of wrecks in the northeast corner area. Then there are several sites that have dozens of f-86s, f-84s, f-8s and more. I also found a F-89 wreck. Its like time is frozen.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Wed Nov 15, 2023 2:22 pm

I think you're looking at old images: there's one B-29 wreck left but no F-86s now. Possibly a few F-84Fs but nowadays it's more modern types on the ranges.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Wed Nov 15, 2023 4:57 pm

I feel like Wendover should get whatever B-29 bits are still left there.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Wed Nov 15, 2023 5:17 pm

quemerford wrote:I think you're looking at old images: there's one B-29 wreck left but no F-86s now. Possibly a few F-84Fs but nowadays it's more modern types on the ranges.


You can find this stuff on google map. Ive found 3 b-29 hulks, lots of f-86s. f-84s, a f-89, f-8s, a couple f-14s. several rows of wings and fuselages. Lots of crashed f9f cougars. but the parts and wings are still very much identifiable.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Wed Nov 15, 2023 7:01 pm

Nathan wrote:
quemerford wrote:I think you're looking at old images: there's one B-29 wreck left but no F-86s now. Possibly a few F-84Fs but nowadays it's more modern types on the ranges.


You can find this stuff on google map. Ive found 3 b-29 hulks, lots of f-86s. f-84s, a f-89, f-8s, a couple f-14s. several rows of wings and fuselages. Lots of crashed f9f cougars. but the parts and wings are still very much identifiable.

Google Maps are often out of date. This is a reality we deal with in aerial photography.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:53 pm

Nathan wrote:There are still f9f cougar wrecks all over China Lake and still a few b-29 hulks. You can definitely see f9f wings and fuselages. lots of wrecks in the northeast corner area. Then there are several sites that have dozens of f-86s, f-84s, f-8s and more. I also found a F-89 wreck. Its like time is frozen.


Can you post the coordinates of those please?

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:55 am

Aircraft Storage Yard https://maps.app.goo.gl/n6waB6MWK6rQWkkA9
B-29, C-97?, C-117D x2, F-4, A-6E x2, A-5 x2, F-8

B-29 https://maps.app.goo.gl/h2RPUGuFqRiGmsUj9
Looks like some wing / engine / tail components could be used.

B-29 https://maps.app.goo.gl/RGdNJZNbZAh9CPfN8
Looks fairly intact

Cluster of Aircraft https://maps.app.goo.gl/UAsgf7bfQyhNfwLT6
C-130 x3, P-3 x2

Aircraft Parts Storage https://maps.app.goo.gl/fSoHiENHPpz2oimr5
C-130, P-3, etc.

Large Aircraft Storage Yard https://maps.app.goo.gl/hpG3qpKrCgXxNXve6
F-14s, F-4s, A-5s, F-18s, Ospreys, UH-60s, UH-1s, Harrier, OV-10, etc.

C-130 https://maps.app.goo.gl/F6q31TMj6Ecu5deKA

Revetment https://maps.app.goo.gl/72Zvk7J7swKYsSHz8
F-4s, A-4

Im sure more people can find other stuff there.
Last edited by Warbird Kid on Thu Nov 16, 2023 2:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:46 am

Certainly enough B-29 parts at those locations for a static...if you have a lot of free labor available.
Maybe the Wendover museum people out to ask their Senator to call the Navy...

The storage yard at the end of the runway looks to be their "museum" for visitors.

The "Cluster of aircraft" image includes what appears to be a Southwest 737. In a couple of other images there seems to be long silver tubes...Wingl IIess airliner fuselages?

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Thu Nov 16, 2023 11:00 am

So no F-86s, F-84s etc. As I mentioned earlier, those went some time ago. I suspect the OP was looking at old images.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Thu Nov 16, 2023 3:39 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:Aircraft Storage Yard https://maps.app.goo.gl/n6waB6MWK6rQWkkA9
B-29, C-97?, C-117D x2, F-4, A-6E x2, A-5 x2, F-8

.


That storage yard only shows an RA-5, F-111 and an F-8 as of the June, 2023 Google Earth images. At one time it did have a great collection of "stuff".

I wish there were still oodles of F-84Fs and F9Fs at China Lake, but if there are I have yet to see them.
Last edited by Clifford Bossie on Fri Nov 17, 2023 5:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Thu Nov 16, 2023 5:47 pm

Is there anything interesting at the Goldwater range complex?

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Thu Nov 16, 2023 9:57 pm

JohnB wrote:Is there anything interesting at the Goldwater range complex?


I have not looked in a long time. I once found an F9F Cougar and an F-86, but that was years ago and they do not show up on recent images. There were some ersatz delta wing targets that looked as if they were made from pipe and sheet metal. I do not remember much else.

The Melrose Air Force Range (NM) still has what look like T-33s and a T-38 in one of the holding areas. There used to be a lot more there.

Oscura bombing range in NM has F-4s, and A-4 or two and two F-101s and one F-106. Years ago there were NMANG F-100Cs, but they appear to be gone now.

A target area on the McGregor range east of Orogrande NM has numerous F-4s.

Who knows, in a few years some of these target might have some value.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:46 am

Circa 1994, I went to D-M on business/TDY, to meet with the guy who loaned aircraft for display.
He showed me around where they were shipping disassembled T-33s to target ranges.
Picked a small souvenir off the ground...:)

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Fri Nov 17, 2023 2:22 pm

I remember speaking to someone at either Wendover or the Hill AFB museum who said there is/was a B-29 airframe at Dugway, but that would have been 20+ years ago.

Re: china lake wrecks are still there: f9fs, b-29s, and f-84

Fri Nov 17, 2023 5:27 pm

Randy Haskin wrote:I remember speaking to someone at either Wendover or the Hill AFB museum who said there is/was a B-29 airframe at Dugway, but that would have been 20+ years ago.


I believe that is the one now at Hill.
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