Crashed F4 Phantom - Shea Road

[riverratmike]

Posted photos here before but doing it again. This weekend a gang of friends, were heading out to the crash site about 15 miles east of Parker. This F4 crashed Oct 22nd 1975. Very close to the end of Shea Road. I was only 8 years old when my grandfather took me up to it for the first time. All my life about once every two years, I've been visiting the site and even to this day. This plane was on a photo mission that morning and had taken off from El Toro Air Force Base. It crashed about 9:15am in the morning due to pilot error. Both pilots ejected but one of the seats didn't deploy the chute properly. He crashed to the ground in his chair and died about 500 ft from the crash of the F4. The other guy make it out ok. I have the full accident report on this crash. The rear section of the plane and one of the jet engines is still at the crash site.
I just recently got into contact with the cousin of the pilot that died. He was only 25 years old at the time and had 3 kids. I received a plaque from the cousin last week and we will be permanently mounting in on the F4 for their family. Will take photos and post them once we return.

 

[obnoxious001]

Nice job Mike! Are you going to fasten it with pop rivets so it's not quite as easily removed?

 

[riverratmike]

Nice job Mike! Are you going to fasten it with pop rivets so it's not quite as easily removed?

yes going to use rivets to mount the plaque, taking my drill and a few other tools to make this all happen.

 

[ka0tyk]

surprised that it wasnt picked clean or shot up by now. must be a lil hidden gem.

 

[djunkie]

That's pretty cool. I'd like to check that out sometime.

 

[Old Man Havasu]

Very cool!

 

[Mattman]

Maybe a dumb question but why was the wreckage left there? Cool pics. Would be great to see in person.

 

[28Eliminator]

An awesome thing you're doing, very cool.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk free, because Tapatalk 2 SUX

 

[FreeBird236]

Thanks for sharing the story, good job..:thumbup:

 

[02Essex]

Maybe a dumb question but why was the wreckage left there? Cool pics. Would be great to see in person.

Usually if the wreckage is in a remote area and not on private property they will remove what they need to remove and conduct there investigation and leave it sit ...

 

[riverratmike]

alot of the plane is gone from people taking things over the years. But it's still a interesting site to check out. Still lots of broken pieces scattered all over the place.

 

[KENDOG689]

This is a very cool thing you are doing. :thumbup:

 

[Wavemaker]

Volunteering to place the memorial plaque for the family members of 1st Lt. Bach and is a very kind act by you. Salutations to you for making this commitment to one of our service members that died in the service of his country. :thumbup:

 

[headshothills]

very cool!!

Kinda like the dunes, I like taking a ride to the flag pole and seeing the plaques and reading the stories that some have posted. :thumbup:

 

[duck660]

Awesome gesture. El Toro was actually a Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County, CA. Closed in 1998. Thanks for your thoughtfulness. Semper Fi.

 

[mjc]

How hard is it to get to? I would like to head out there sometime.

 

[riverratmike]

How hard is it to get to? I would like to head out there sometime.

it's in a pretty remote area with shrubs and very big rocks you have to go over. Ground clearance is a must! My stock Rhino makes it to the site with no problems. Probably going to be it's 10th time there this weekend. Hit me up sometime and we'll get together and I can show you where it is located. Not to many people know about it and it's location.

 

[Patyacht]

Post a map or coordinates please.

 

[mjc]

it's in a pretty remote area with shrubs and very big rocks you have to go over. Ground clearance is a must! My stock Rhino makes it to the site with no problems. Probably going to be it's 10th time there this weekend. Hit me up sometime and we'll get together and I can show you where it is located. Not to many people know about it and it's location.

I have a full size blazer with small lift. Will it make it? Now that boating season is starting I probably won't be doing much off road until fall gets here.

 

[riverratmike]

I have a full size blazer with small lift. Will it make it? Now that boating season is starting I probably won't be doing much off road until fall gets here.

hard to say but it might. There is a really bad rocky section on the trail. I'll take some photos of it.

 

[riverratmike]

Some of my family and friends ventured out into the Arizona desert this afternoon and installed a Plaque made for 1st Lieutenant Robert M. Bach who was piloting this F4 and crashed October 22nd 1975. Bach perished in the crash as his ejection seat malfunctioned and hit the ground after ejecting. Temperatures were a little warm but still made good progress and got the plaque installed on the plane.