F2H-4 Banshee crash site(1959) Current day photos

[bugazon]

My friends and I set forth out on our adventure today seeking this site to photograph and place a memorial plack for this fallen pilot, LTjg James F Wiley, at the spot in the Santa Cruz mountains. The hike is not too hard going down hill, but going up is a medium difficult hike coming back. Its also far enough out of the way where the Navy was unable to remove the wreck and left it where it came to rest.
The story happens as LTjg James F Wiley was flying in on a cold rainy foggy day on Feb 22 1959 from NAS North Island, San Diego to NAS Alemeda, his aircraft hit the top of a tree in the Santa Cruz mountains, losing a wing, and plumeting him to earth.
So, we wanted to let people who visted here to know that this is a memorial and to look, and not forget our fallen aviator.
On our way in off the beaten path, we headed into a rivine and found a Morris Minor I believe. Thats Donald driving...

these are the item in the debris field

[RMAllnutt]

Fascinating photos, and an amazing state of preservation for this aircraft. Sad story about the pilot. By the way, that's not a Morris Minor... my family had one in the early seventies. Not sure what it is, but definitely not a Minor.

Cheers,
Richard

[Richard W.]

Great photos- Thanks.

Do you think the Navy marked the wreckage with that orange paint?

[Ryan Keough]

Great photos- Thanks.

Do you think the Navy marked the wreckage with that orange paint?

Common practice by which ever agency that initially finds the wreckage and major parts are left on site... so others (CAP) won't come across it later and think it is an undiscovered wreck or new accident.

[Chris Brame]

Not sure what it is, but definitely not a Minor.

German NSU Prinz, '58-'61.