Warbird Information Exchange

I have been lurking here for years but to lazy to register, as I dont have the knowledge to reply. I was doing some research on trail rides and plane crashes here in Washington State and came upon a B25 that crashed on July 26, 1960. Upon more Googling, I found that their were 3 within a few weeks. All I can seem to find is the one that went down in California, but nothing on this one, other than this 7/26/1960 Beaver Lake Fire George E Carey pilot, J.C. Brehm Co-pilot, Twisp RD, Okanogan NF B-25 Retardant Plane Crash. Thats it, does anyone know of more information? The NTSB doesnt have anything for 1960 either?
Thanks,
Mike

Hi Mike,

Most likely this one:
44-30377 N9613C, 26 Jul 1960 crashed Washington while firebombing
Kind regards,

Coert

From Scott Thompson's great B-25 Mitchell in Civil Service...

"Wenatchee Air service's N9613C lost its wings after a high-speed drop and flipped over, crashing inverted and tail first while working a fire near Okanogan, Washington."

The crash was on July 26.
The next day another Mitchell crashed on a fire near McCall, Idaho.
Less than a week earlier, on July 22, two fire fighting B-25s crashed the same day..one flew into a box canyon in California, another crashed while fighting a fire near Baker, Oregon.

As you might imagine, the FAA, USFS and NTSB were alarmed, and to cut a long story short (hint: read the book ) it marked the beginning of the end of B-25s as firefighters in the lower 48 (even though the planes weren't really to blame as there was no common cause to the accidents).

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Thats the one, thanks allot! Does anyone know how much is left of it? How would I find the location? Thinking of trail riding up there and checking it out and taking pictures.

Try to check the Wenatchee newspaper for details since the plane was based there, they shuld have details. If it was near Okanagon, check that paper too.

It was in the Okanagon National Forest, so once you have a general location (X many miles from place X) call the Ranger district for that part of the forest (each NF has several districts). Try to speak with a Ranger, they'd know if there were substancial remains left. The NF HQ might also have an archeologist whose job it is to note things like that..so they might know something too.

Remember, it was 50 years ago, so you probably won't be dealing with people with first hand knowledge.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Thanks allot, I did email the Wenatchee World, but have not had any response yet. If we can find it, I would love to take some pictures, if anythings left.

I wonder if this was one of the B-25s Parsons operated, he mentioned to me the loss of a Mitchell in a canyon once......hmmmm he's the nice guy that had owned N10564 as a fire bomber back in the day of *looks around* Borate and Slurry. Ducking and running for cover

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

Hi Mike,
I have been trying to get a message to you but am not sure if I am going about it correctly. Anyway, I have some info. on the crash you are looking into and if you are still interested in it contact me at:

ldphilmon@swift-stream.com

Hopefully this will get through to you.

Larry

If any surviving wreckage is on or near existing hiking trails you might want to try searching/posting on an area hiking forum, as there may be existing information or photos as well as route maps etc. available. It's a long shot, but you never know.

good luck

greg v.