Question about the Model 299 crash at Wright Field...

[fotobass]

Is what they used to refer to as Wright Field the space in front of NMUSAF, or is it somewhere else that's restricted...or is it the whole base, for that matter?

I was reading the Air Classics B17 history (pt 1) today, and wondered if perhaps I've been driving the crash site for years without realizing it.

[Pat Carry]

I have often wondered the same thing!

[Steve Nelson]

I'm not sure which runway the crash occured on. I believe the museum complex is located on one of the old runways, and of course there's the runway out back that's still used occasionally. The original Wright Field flightline is where the Presidential and Restoration hangars are located, and a third runway ran that direction. Somewhere in that large area the remains of the 299 are supposedly still buried, although I've read that the intact tail section was taken back to a hangar and used for various structural and weapons mount tests.

Here's a 1945 map of Wright Field. I suppose if you could find the original crash report you could determine which runway it happened on. The museum complex is located on the old runway 05/23

SN

<edit..here's the pic!>

Last edited by Steve Nelson on Tue May 18, 2010 3:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JBoyle]

I've often wondered if you did a dig...
Nah...there couldn't be...

But that would be a piece of scrap worth having.