Colorado Aviation Archaeology: News

Ordway B-17 Expedition

File No: 0904-CS

Background

On January 24, 1943, at approximately 23:05 hours Mountain War Time (MWT), a USAAF B-17F, A.F. No. 42-5334, assigned to the 334^th Bombardment Squadron, 95^th Bombardment Group, 2^nd Air Force, assigned to Rapid City Army Air Base, Rapid City, South Dakota, impacted terrain while in flight near Ordway, Colorado. All ten crew members on this flight were mortally wounded (see A.F. Form 14, 0904-CS-DO-001).

Having received a weather briefing based on earlier forecasts, 42-5334 was cleared for a local nighttime bombing mission, departing Pueblo Army Air Base at 16:54 hours MWT. At 18:50 hours MWT, weather conditions were forecast to be below minimums by 23:00 hours local. Due to atmospheric interference, 42-5334 was not contacted by Pueblo operations.

At the time of the accident, the closest official weather observation station was La Junta Army Air Base, 28 miles southeast, which was reporting the ceiling at 400 feet, with one mile of visibility and light snow.

The official findings as to cause of this accident:

Undetermined. Scars on ground and location of wreckage indicate aircraft struck ground with left wing and cart-wheeled, spreading wreckage over large area. 85% undetermined; 10% weather; 5% material.

Included in the report package are photo-static copies of: the original USAAF Form 14; eyewitness statements from three individuals, all undated; a statement concerning cause of death by the Chief of Laboratory and Pharmacy Officer, Lt. Cyril J. Anslinger, dated 01/26/1943; a statement by Lt. Herman R. Ogg, Pueblo Operations Officer, dated 01.27.1943; two obscure, illegible photo negatives from the original crash scene investigation; a page of tidbits, comprised of two handwritten and four typed notes; and four pages of redundant teletype traffic.

AvAr’s copy of the official report, though somewhat hard to read, was provided by the Pueblo Historic Aircraft Society (PHAS) to our own Len Wallace, who then offered it, in its entirety, to AvAr.

A cross-reference of this material may be found on pages 249 and 250 of Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States: 1941-1945; Volume 1, by Anthony J. Mireles.

Narrative

On 10.24.2009 I departed my domicile at 06:00 hours local, proceeding to the McDonald’s Restaurant in Limon, CO for a 08:15 hours rendezvous with fellow team members Larry Liebrecht, David McCord and Charles Stockmeyer. Also at the rendezvous was Mr. Lee White, a guest, along with our non-AvAr guide, Mr. Jim Walters. The team departed at 08:30 for the Ordway destination.

Enroute to Ordway, I stopped the procession for approximately 5 minutes near the Punkin Center P-38 crash site so as to brief everyone on the particulars of a future visit. (Reference AvAr File No. 0704-CS.)

Arriving in the vicinity of the crash site, we waited approximately 15 minutes while Mr. Walters gathered the property owner. During this downtime I conducted the required AvAr safety briefings and evaluated the terrain we would be searching.

The overall area is open prairie with a flat grade and unrestricted vision. Vegetation is sparse, consisting principally of little bluestem, switch and Indian grasses, along with sage, yucca and miniature cactus plants. A three foot berm, which borders the west side of a north and south running irrigation (dry) ditch, presents the only discernible and significant change in the topography. Bottoming at 12 feet (estimated) below surface level, the west bank of this ditch is situated 160 feet due east of the established benchmark. Defining the western edge of the debris field is a little used, two-wheeled trail, which is paralleled just to the west of that by a small irrigation (wet) ditch, approximately 12 inches deep and with standing water.

Our team was through the fence, on site and the search officially begun at 09:32 hours. Within two minutes of boots on the ground the first artifact, a non-descript, 4 inch square piece of aircraft aluminum, was discovered.

Over the next five hours our team established a benchmark for this site and registered its elevation. The entire area was covered by a pedestrian survey, along with a limited magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) sweep. Outlining what is believed to be the entire debris field circumference, team members placed 96 orange pin flags, then registered and mapped the entire site.

Identifying this debris field, which is roughly 700 feet in diameter, it was determined that the general flow of debris rests on an approximate heading of 31º magnetic (MH), which is consistent with eyewitness statements taken during the January 1943 investigation.

The area is bereft of any readily identifiable, crash related ground scarring, with the possible exception of two asymmetrical depressions, situated exactly 23 feet apart and on a 270º magnetic bearing (MB), beginning 100 feet from the established benchmark. While no official measurement was recorded, both depressions are approximately 13 inches in depth at their deepest point, and irregular in shape.

The debris field is covered with various descript and non-descript parts of the aircraft, but no complete assemblies were noted. Significant finds retained for further study included: a “cooked-off” shell and bullet (0904-CS-AR-001); segmented pieces of an oxygen control face plate (0904-CS-AR-003); the upper half of a turn-and-bank indicator faceplate (0904-CS-AR-004); a piece of structure (longeron/stringer) with part number (0904-CS-AR-002); and a rectangular aluminum piece (0904-CS-AR-005), approximately 10 ½ inches in length, found buried vertically in the two-wheeled trail on the western periphery of the debris field.

Based on a statement made by the current owner, this site definitely qualifies for third-generation status: first disturbed by the military immediately post-crash (1943); family members over the succeeding years, with special emphasis in the aluminum collecting era (1960/70’s);

and then external souvenir hunting and wreck-chasing visitors within the past two decades, including Mr. Jim Walters, among others (1990’s).

Collecting all 96 pin flags placed, our team secured the pasture gate at 14:31 hours. After pausing for a group photograph, individual team members departed for their domiciles.

North American Aviation Archaeology Summit 2010 Announced

Notice

The North American Aviation Archaeology Summit 2010 will be held at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado, over the weekend of April 17th & 18th, 2010.

Hosted by the North American Institute of Aviation Archaeology (NAIAA) and the Northern Colorado field office of AvAr, this two day event is intended to gather serious members of the aviation archaeology and wreckchasing communities in an effort to establish guidelines for a national organization.

Focused on open discussion and workgroup sessions, the design of this conference is to maximize participation for all who attend. Rather than offering presentations of past accomplishments, attendees will be invited to contribute ideas based on knowledge and previous experiences that will lend to the development of a new, national organization of aviation archaeology.

Addressing such issues as organizational structure, mission orientation, principles of operation, educational standards, and membership criteria, along with establishment of an ethical code of conduct will be the primary focus of this Summit.

This is a truly unique opportunity to help create a national organization. What will be discussed at this conference may well shape the future of aviation archaeology for all enthusiasts. Should you wish to attend please RSVP no later than December 31st, 2009. To RSVP for this Summit please contact Brian Richardson or Matthew Hensarling of the North American Institute of Aviation Archaeology.

Daily refreshments and handout materials will be provided. A special discount rate for lodging near the facility has also been arranged for early registrants. Attending delegates will also receive a commemorative certificate of recognition for their participation in this monumentous summit.

Contacts:
Brian Richardson, Director
North American Institute of Aviation Archaeology
Aviatior_B@msn.com

Matthew Hensarling, Information Manager
North American Institute of Aviation Archaeology
mattncolorado@yahoo.com

Ordway B-17 Expedition Announced; Several Team Positions Will Be Open To The Public

At approximately 23:05 hours MWT (Mountain War Time) on Sunday, January 24, 1943, a USAAF B-17-F, AF. No. 42-5334, assigned to the 334th Bombardment Squadron, 95th Bombardment Group, 2nd Air Force, at Rapid City Army Air Force Base, South Dakota, suffered a controlled-flight-into-terrain (CFIT) accident while on a practice bombing mission near the town of Ordway, Colorado. All ten crewmembers were mortally wounded upon impact. Local weather (WX) at the time was reported as 400 foot overcast, light snow and visibility 1 to 2 miles.

On Saturday, October 24, 2009, an AvAr field team is scheduled to conduct a pedestrian survey of the suspected area in order to reacquire and map the site with GPS.

Situated on relatively flat, open prairie land this expedition has been classified as an easy to moderate physical challenge for searchers. As such, AvAr has decided to open a number of positions on this team to the general public. No previous experience or special training is required. However, you will have to self-certify that you are physically capable of walking distances up to 5 miles.

Whether you simply have a passion for aviation history or want to learn more about the science of aviation archaeology, you won't want to pass up this unique opportunity to accompany our experienced field agents.

To secure a position on this team or for more information please contact the program director at (970) 405-5377 or aviator_b@msn.com

Rattle Snake Butte Mail Planes: Update

Exhibiting their usual intrepidity and aplomb, eight AvAr field agents humped more than 60 hours of on-site time, over two different weekends, in search of the two Rattle Snake Butte Vegas.

Prepared with limited (local) newspaper accounts, team members searched two different sections of land, over four days, and identified no relevant artifacts. That said, they did discover an historic midden in the vicinity of the 1935 crash, along with a treasure trove of prairie "wind blown" artifacts throughout the 1936 crash site search area.

What is known is that two Varney Speed Lines Lockheed Vegas crashed only 16 months (and 1.5 miles) apart, in Herfano County, Colorado, some 70(+) years ago, between May 1935 and September 1936.

Initial research offered graphic local newspaper accounts of both the 1935 and 1936 incidents, along with an official Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) report of the 1936 crash. Additionally, the grandson of L.A. Busch, still residing in that vicinity, suggested a location that team members should search, indicating his grandfather had identified a specific area more than a half-century before.

While an incredible amount of time was exhausted and nearly two full sections of land covered, AvAr is confident that it closed these acres to further scrutiny with but one exception; the spot covered by old farm equipment.

Nothing was found during these two weekends that would indicate an airplane crash had occured. Besides some scattered surtface debris, an 18 inch pry bar was fouind approxiamtely 6 inches beneath the surface after six hours of MAD (magnetic anomoly detector) sweeping.

AvAr team member Matt Hensarling, is currently combing the National Archives in Washington. He hopes to find some remnants of the original investigation files on both the 1935 and 1936 crashes.

Check this website for updates on the Rattle Snake Butte Vegas.

AvAr Fall 2009 Training Course Closed

Effective 4:18 pm, September 7, 2009, the Colorado Aviation Historical Society fall Aviation Archaeology (AvAr) course offering is officially closed and no longer accepting applications.

The next available course will be conducted in the Spring of 2010 -- so do frequent this website for that announcement and news of other exciting projects.

Thank you for your continued interest.

Rattle Snake Butte Mail Plane

AvAr has received official permission to search the Rattle Snake Butte area in order to relocate a Lockheed Vega mail plane crash site, dating back to September of 1936.

Designated AvAr File 0903-CS, the mission of this team is to: 1) Relocate and accurately (GPS) identify the crash site boundaries; 2) Photo-document the site; 3) Detail the site in a written report.

Situated just east of Walsenburg, Colorado, an AvAr expedition has been scheduled to this location over the weekend of August 22/23, 2009. The current plan is to have an advance team arrive on Friday (8/21), meeting with the property owner to ensure gate access. Other team members would arrive on Saturday morning (at an as of yet determined rendezvous point) prior to 8:30 am.

As this will be a routine site survey with no excavation involved, team members can expect to be in the field from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, and 7:30 am to noon on Sunday. Attire will be the usual AvAr kit for high desert/prairie, summer day work.

Since it is about a four hour drive -- each way -- from Denver, some team members will want to find lodging or plan to camp, while others may want to spend only one day on site, then head home. Len Wallace (AvAr instructor) is currently working on affordable lodging and camping options in that area. Also, it is possible that the property owner will authorize on-site camping; more info to follow.

If you are interested in volunteering for this expedition, please contact aviator_b@msn.com at your earliest convenience. Participation in this event requires AvAr field agent certification.

Koziupa Engine Comes Home

Thanks to the generosity of a Freemont County artist, AvAr has secured an incredible piece of history. World renowned sculptor and historian, Robert Henderson, donated the remains of an Allison engine to be used in a travelling memorial by AvAr.

At about 10:35 Mountain War Time on the morning of March 21, 1943, Lt. Mike Koziupa abandoned his flaming F-4 Lightning, sn. 41-2152, around 21,000 feet MSL and in the vicinity of Squirrel Creek, Colorado. From his parachute the young pilot watched as the aircraft plunged into the ground at an estimated speed in excess of 600 MPH, burying pieces nearly six feet beneath the Colorado prairie.

Fifty years later, in the summer of 1993, a group of local historians led by Len Wallace then a volunteer at the Peterson Air & Space Museum on Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs, relocated the site and spent several months excavating what wreckage had been left behind by the military. Among this group was Kai Corns Curator of the Peterson Air & Space Museum & Robert Henderson, who dragged the remains of the engine back to his studio in Canon City for safe keeping.

AvAr plans to erect a traveling memorial dedicated to the many who lost their lives in training during WWII. This unique relic will figure prominently in the exhibit.

AvAr Bulletin #21

Subject:AvAr Class 901; Field Agent Tip (FAT) #3; Jimmy Camp - 09; 2009 Additional Course; New Mexico Point In Time (PIT) Project(s); Moffett Field Summit

AvAr Class 901

Class 901 completed its training cycle on May 31, 2009, following sixteen hours of platform instruction. In its fourth year of offering this course, AvAr has now graduated forty-four field agents.

New to this year’s course of instruction was the inclusion of several “outside” speakers. Instead of visiting Redwood College on Saturday (6/30) afternoon, this class entertained three notable presenters:

Mr. Craig Fuller (AAIR) of Arizona spoke about imagery identification in aviation archaeology.

Col. Jim Moschgat (USAF Ret.) of Florida presented his findings on the Buzz Wagner crash-site.

Mr. Dale Hueske (Naper 28 C-47) of Nebraska, related stories about notifying relatives.

As with each successive class, AvAr has striven to present the best educational opportunity for its new students and returning membership.

Remember… once you have paid for an AvAr basic/indoctrination course, you are welcome to return for any class at no cost. (This does not include any class materials or handouts.)

FAT #3

Although metric rule is rapidly becoming the preferred measure of most government agencies worldwide, AvAr recommends that you take all measurements in English Standard, when surveying any U.S. site. Since this was the standard used to construct American technology, it should also be the standard recognized.

If conversion to metric measure is warranted, there are a number of conversion tables available on most every search engine. English Standard to metric conversion is now routine.

Jimmy Camp – ‘09

Fifty-five years to the day, AvAr celebrated “D-Day” by returning to the site where nine US Army Air Force crew-members lost their lives, preparing for war.

On Saturday, June 6^th, eighteen trained members of AvAr returned to the Jimmy Camp site. Twelve grids on the northern hill were identified and outlined. Interesting artifacts were discovered, catalogued and recovered.

Another two–thirds of this site remains to be discovered not only above, but also just under the surface. You have been trained for this sort of operation. Are you willing to commit some time to this extremely important project later this summer?

2009 Additional Course

Due to the unexpected response received to this year’s earlier class announcement, the Colorado Aviation Historical Society has decided to host a fall AvAr Course. Class 902 will be conducted over the weekend of October 3rd, 2009, at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. Individuals interested in taking this course should apply as soon as possible. With only ten seats offered, this course is already starting to fill up.

If you know of someone that might be interested, please recommend that they visit our website and complete the application process as quickly as possible. With a limit of ten students per class, the October course is nearing maximum capacity.

New Mexico Point In Time (PIT) Project(s)

The week of June 15-19, 2009, four AvAr members traveled to the Cibola National Forrest in Grants, New Mexico, joining United States Forrest Service archaeologists and other select volunteers for a week long survey of historic aircraft crash sites situated on public lands.

For this first ever aviation focused PIT (Point In Time) project, more than twenty candidates (nationwide) applied for only four initial positions available. In the end, AvAr trained field agents were invited to fill four of six (reevaluated) slots.

Climbing hills, digging in the dirt and traversing lava flows, members of this PIT team visited four different sites throughout the week. These included a Ford Tri-motor, Consolidated OA-10, Consolidated B-24, and a Budd C-93.

On Wednesday evening of that week, a public presentation was made at the Grants Multimedia Visitor Center. The four speakers were: Craig Fuller (AAIR/AvAr) of California; Dan Deloria of Oklahoma; Brian Richardson (AvAr) of Colorado; and Mike McComb of Arizona.

Craig Fuller, Brian Richardson, Robert Rushforth, and Matt Wehling were the four AvAr members joining that PIT team. Both Fuller and Wehling are alumnus of Class 901.

Moffett Field Summit

On June 20, 2009, the first known gathering of aviation archaeologists on the North American continent was held in the shadow of a massive blimp hangar at the Moffett Field Museum, located in Mountain View, California.

Twenty-one attendees, most of whom are recognized figures in the aviation archaeology community, enjoyed nearly seven hours of presentations from subject matter experts in the field of aviation archaeology. Such notable speakers as Nicholas Veronico, Dr. Patrick Scannon, Craig Fuller, Peter Merlin, Tony Moore, and Matt Cerkel presented an array of topics relevant to aviation archaeology. Closing the roster of scheduled speakers was AvAr director Brian Richardson, outlining the progress AvAr has made over the past five years in this field and inviting discussion about standardization and nationalization of this scientific discipline. (At the end of the day a vote was taken and 81% favored a nationalized organization.)

All told, five AvAr members were in attendance at this summit: Craig Fuller (CA), Matt Hensarling (CO), Larry Liebrecht (CO), Brian Richardson (CO), and Matt Wehling (NM).

Thanks to Nicholas and Betty Veronico for organizing this meeting and making it such a successful event.

Have a safe and happy 4^th!

AvAr Fall 2009 Training Course Announced

The Colorado Aviation Historical Society will be hosting its next AvAr Field Agent Basic Indoctrination Course, Class 902, at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport over the weekend of October 3 / 4, with a CAHS certification field exercise the following Saturday, October 10, 2009.

Upon completion of the mandatory 16 hour classroom program, attendees receive a handsome, frameable graduation certificate. Should those graduates seek official Colorado Aviation Historical Society accreditation, they must attend either the designated certification field exercise (October 10) or a similar event, approved by the program director, within the following 12 calendar months.

The cost for this exclusive opportunity is $129.00 USD. This package includes: Two days of platform instruction and one day of field work; A CD of all presentations and student handout materials; Morning and afternoon refreshments during both days of platform instruction.

Compare the value of this program with other similar offerings and I think you'll agree this is the best 'bang-for-your-buck' when it comes to learning about the science, technology and nuances of aviation archaeology.

Follow the link to the application then fill it out and submit it, along with a check payable to the North American Institute of Aviation Archaeology (NAIAA), at your earliest convenience. The application deadline for this course offering is September 18, 2009. However, space is available on a first come, first served basis. Should you have any questions please contact the program manager at aviator_b@msn.com.

Rattlesnake Buttes Mail Plane

AvAr instructor Len Wallace is putting together an expedition team to survey the September 28, 1936 crash of a Varney Speedline Lockheed Vega. Situated east of Walsenburg, this survey project will require AvAr Field Agent certification. Please forward your intent to join this project to aviator_b@msn.com at your earliest possible convenience.

Return to Jimmy Camp B-24

Due to unusually wet weather, AvAr launched its field season at the Jimmy Camp B-24 site a bit late this spring. Beginning its second year of a four year contract with the Cultural Resources Department of the City of Colorado Springs, AvAr has committed to conducting a complete survey and excavation at this 65 year old crash site.

The clock is ticking, but AvAr’s skilled team of field agents is making considerable progress with each and every visit. The north ridgeline is nearing completion and everyone’s ready to move south towards the main impact site.

The next scheduled Jimmy Camp expedition is slated for Saturday, July 25, 2009, so mark your calendars.

As this is not an OpSec restricted site, guests are welcome to attend so long as they are sponsored by a team member.

Please contact the site manager (aviator_b@msn.com) and let him know whether you plan to attend or not.

Class 901 a great success!

Over the weekend of May 30/31, 2009, the Colorado Aviation Historical Society conducted its fourth annual AvAr Field Agent Basic Indoctrination Course at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.

That class (Class 901) was composed of students from not only the local area, but also Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Fourteen in all, these new members of the AvAr team received their graduation certificates following two days of intense platform instruction. During the sixteen hour classroom segment of this course, eleven major and six minor subject areas are covered, providing our graduates with the fundamental information necessary to begin conducting research and field operations.

Congratulations and welcome to our newest class of certified Field Agents: Robert Braun, Carol Brussel, Craig Fuller, Tony Garrett, Steve Hankle, Heather Johnson-Greenhalge, Jennifer Mrachek, David McCord, Thomas Nolan, Austen Popejoy, Dr. Michael Ross, Charles Stockmyer, Matt Wehling, and Dr. C. Bart Whitehouse.

AvAr Class 901 is full!

This is to inform you that the Colorado Aviation Historical Society Aviation Archaeology Field Agent Indoctrination Course (AvAr Class 901), scheduled for May 30/31, 2009, is no longer accepting application packages and has been completely filled. Please continue to visit our website for future class dates, as well as news about past, present and future expeditions.

AvAr Bulletin #016

AvAr Bulletin: 016

Subject: Return to Jimmy Camp; Trinidad B-24; A Colorado Landmark is Gone; AvAr Member Makes Good

Date: August 26, 2007

Return to Jimmy Camp

As reported in AvAr Bulletin #015… there has been an unforeseen delay in our return to Jimmy Camp Creek. Although the crash site rests on city (Colorado Springs) land, we have to access it via the Banning-Lewis Ranch (BLR). Even though the city is excited to have us working this site, they too are limited in their access to this property at present.

In a recent development, BLR sent a proposed agreement that will require AvAr to have, among other things, $2M worth of general liability insurance to cross its property. Although this request has been conveyed to the CAHS board of directors, it is doubtful they would approve such expenditure at this time.

AvAr’s staff is presently exploring options with the City of Colorado Springs to get us back on the site as soon as possible. It is our belief that an amicable arrangement will be made and AvAr should be returning to Jimmy Camp in the not too distant future. You will be kept informed as the situation develops.

Trinidad (Monument Lake) B-24

Over the weekend of August 24/26, six members of the AvAr team, along with one guest, ascended nearly 1,300 feet in just 1.3 miles to reach the site of a 1943 B-24D crash. This arduous trek was accomplished not once, but twice; first on Friday, then again on Saturday.

Starting from an elevation of 9,232 feet MSL (mean sea level), and reaching a height of 10, 505 feet, our team tackled some treacherous, rugged terrain in order to complete their mission: rock slides, fallen timbers, “tangle foot” underbrush, slopes in excess of 50°, not

Trinidad B-24 cont.

to mention the extreme elevations; all challenges were met and conquered by these truly intrepid adventurers. On top of this, there was an elevated threat of bear and mountain lion interaction due to the remote nature of this area, with fresh evidence of these creatures abundant during each day of the climb.

Having been to this site on several previous occasions over the past decade, AvAr instructor Len Wallace, led our team up to the site both days. According to Len, “the content of this site has been greatly disturbed by vandals in recent years”. Testimony to this fact was apparent in the that someone has savagely hacked the aircraft’s serial number – with an axe – from the left vertical stabilizer. Further indications of site desecration were obvious given the lack of cockpit instruments, engine and personal crew apparatus throughout the crash site. AvAr will forward a copy of its initial survey results to the appropriate authorities in short order.

AvAr is in contact with a number of museums that would like to have remnants from a B-24 crash site as the focal point for a memorial display. In keeping with our code of ethics, AvAr will attempt to negotiate an agreement between the USFS and one of these museums for a transfer of property.

Whereas last year’s Adobe Creek adventure was highlighted by its many rattlesnake encounters, the Trinidad B-24 experience will always be remembered for our team’s daily black bear visitations. Thursday and Friday nights were marked by solo raids after we had gone to bed. But on Saturday evening, while our team was in the middle of yet another fine dining experience, two very large bears brazenly stumbled into camp figuring to intimidate their way into a free meal. A warning shot, accompanied by the blast from an air horn, sent them packing.

There are several “special mentions” to be included in this report. First, Donley Watkins (Class of ’06) cut trail and ventured to the extreme limits of the debris field on Friday. Heavily armed and always ready to assist other members with carrying their load, Don was a welcome member to our team.

Philip Liebrecht, a NASA employee and brother of AvAr staff member Larry Liebrecht, decided to join this effort at the last minute. Although he hails from Maryland (you can’t get any closer to sea level than that), Philip was like a mountain goat – sure footed and always out in front. Discovering a number of previously unidentified elements of this crash site on exceptionally treacherous terrain, he proved an invaluable asset in the documentation of this site.

Len Wallace, at 71 years young, qualifies as an extremely rare AvAr asset. Not only was he resilient enough to take point on our expedition both days, he’s already planning to visit the Artesia B-29, Glenwood B-26 and Maybell B-29 crash sites this coming October, along with Mark and Sue Anderson (Class of ’06), over on the western slope .

A Colorado Landmark is Gone

For nearly forty years, patrons of the Armory (a popular college bar and favorite watering hole for many Weld County residents) have danced beneath the massive fuselage of a television and war movie icon, few of whom really ever knowing of its true identity. But, without warning, this Greeley landmark [literally] flew west recently, leaving many longtime admirers wondering what happened.

As one of a popular chain of “college town” drinking establishments started in the late ‘60s, Greeley’s Armory was decorated with an eclectic hodgepodge of movie props from Hollywood that could command a curious visitors attention for hours. The centerpiece of this particular establishment, however, was the fuselage section of a B-17 that hung over its dance floor. Acquired from a movie studio, then shipped to the Armory for display, this incredibly unique airplane was better known as Piccadilly Lily, featured weekly in the television show 12 O’clock High. Also, unknown to many aficionados of the silver screen, this is the same B-17 that famed Hollywood stunt pilot, Paul Mantz, crash-landed in Dothan, Alabama for the original movie 12 O’clock High, filmed in 1948.

Acquired a few months ago by the California Air Heritage Foundation, this historic property was secretly – and unceremoniously – whisked away to its new home on the left coast. Bruce Orriss, director of the abovementioned group, plans to restore and exhibit this aircraft as a mobile educational display item. He has asked AvAr to assist in locating much-needed components from various crash sites around Colorado in order to help complete the restoration. This request will be evaluated later in the year by AvAr staff only after much greater detail about the project and the California Air Heritage Foundation has been gathered.

Suffice it to say; Piccadilly Lily will be sorely missed!

AvAr Member Makes Good

Dionne Braxton (Class of ’06) was recently hired by Mesa Airlines as a first officer candidate. Following several weeks of intense jet-transition training into the Bombardier RJ-50, she hopes to land a domicile somewhere in the Great lakes region.

Intent on making one last AvAr expedition before she had to report for duty, Dionne traveled to our Monument Lake base camp, arriving late Thursday (8/23) evening, in order to make the Trinidad B-24 hike on Friday. After eight hours of arduous climbing, surveying then descent, she departed the area later that evening for Arizona, so as to begin classes on Monday morning.

_____________________________________

Send comments, corrections or submissions to aviator_b@msn.com

AvAr Bulletin #015

AvAr Bulletin: 015

Subject: Return to Jimmy Camp; Glendo Monomail; Trinidad B-24; Hell’s Hole BT-13; TIGHAR; New Equipment

Date: July 23, 2007

Return to Jimmy Camp

There has been an unforeseen delay in our return to Jimmy Camp Creek. Although the crash site rests on city (Colorado Springs) land, we have to access to it via the Banning-Lewis Ranch. Even though the city is excited to have us working this site, they too are limited to access this property at present.

We have begun negotiating with the folks at Banning-Lewis Ranch Management Company, LLC in order to gain regular, unrestricted access. The City of Colorado Springs has already completed the necessary permits on their end for us; now all that remains is to receive permission from Banning-Lewis. We will keep you informed as to any developments. Hopefully, we will be able to return sometime this fall.

Glendo Monomail

I’m sure you all remember the case study presented in your AvAr training by Ron Miller concerning the 1935 Boeing Monomail Crash, somewhere near Glendo, Wyoming. Ron has been investigating on-and-off for this site for some two years, conducting over-flights and looking for the legendary “horseshoe shaped” ridge from the air. Well, with a little combined effort, we’re happy to report that the site has been located again after 72 long years.

On Saturday, June 23^rd, five team members (Larry Carpenter, Larry Liebrecht, Ron Miller, Brian Richardson, Len Wallace) originally planning to attend the Jimmy Camp Creek excavation, all hopped-up on adrenaline and ready to do some field work, decided at the last minute to travel North for a little Wyoming excursion.

Between 7:00 and 9:00 am, a series of choreographed rendezvous’ brought all five members (spanning some 60 miles) together in a two-car procession, headed for Glendo, Wyoming. Arriving at Beacon Hill around 11:25 am – and having received permission from the property owner beforehand – this intrepid group, armed with an assortment of metal detectors, began a systematic sweep across the area suggested by researchers Duke Sumonia and Len Wallace, as the possible crash site.

Approximately 30 minutes into the search, Len Wallace found the first artifact; a fragment of some (as yet unidentified) cast aluminum assembly. An artifact inventory log (AvAr Form 007) was opened immediately and, over the next two hours, our team toiled in 90° F (+) temperatures to identify and plot a fair representation of the present day debris field.

Strewn with boulders and moderately forested with coniferous trees, there’s a carpet of pine needles over the entire area, better than an inch deep, which camouflages the evidence and pretty much requires searching by metal detectors. Fortunately, all the rattlers were keeping cool and staying out of site. (According to the property owner, however, we missed seeing a 10 footer that lives by the gate that we accessed the property through. It was there when he joined us at the site around 2:00 pm.)

By the time our team left at 2:30 pm, more than 100 artifacts had been collected; most no more than small bits and pieces, but all significant in their own right. One truly intriguing artifact (0702-CS-AR-018) is a tiny bit of blue fabric material found buried about 6 inches below the surface at the site’s benchmark. Len Wallace, through his personal contacts at both CSU and the Scripps Howard Institute will try and have these samples analyzed.

All in all it was a most successful adventure for such last minute arrangements. AvAr will plan a return trip to continue digging around the benchmark (suspected impact site) area sometime this fall when temperatures are bit cooler. We will keep you informed.

One final note… a very special thanks to Duke Sumonia and Len Wallace for doing such a tremendous job of investigating this incident. In a matter of 10 days they tracked down not only the current owners name, address and phone number, they traveled the 300 (+) miles round trip to meet with him and check the area out. Their search also took them to Laramie, WY where they found a collection of photographs and documents from the airline (Wyoming Air Service) that was using this aircraft when it crashed in 1935. Great job, guys!

Trinidad B-24

Over the weekend of August 24 – 26, 2007, an AvAr team will be visiting the site of a WWII B-24 crash in the San Isabel National Forrest near Trinidad, CO. This particular site is unique in that it is considered, by many, as the most intact WWII crash site in Colorado – perhaps even in the United States.

Although no technical climbing is required, the site is moderately difficult to reach. This expedition will require an honest assessment from everyone going along concerning his or her personal physical condition.

Len Wallace, AvAr instructor, has made the journey several times, the most recent being just this past June when he took some reporters from Colorado Springs up to the site. (If you’ll remember, Len is 71 years young.) He says the secret is to pace yourself and take it slow. The trek takes about an hour and will be guided by either Len Wallace or Brian Richardson.

An advance team will be setting up base camp on Thursday, August 23^rd, then hiking to the site on Friday with some US Park personnel to verify terrain conditions and identify any wildlife issues. Saturday morning, about 8:00 am, we’ll launch from the base camp and plan to spend the day surveying this site.

Since it is about 3 ½ hours drive from the metro-Denver area, all field agents attending are urged to plan on spending the night at the base camp both Friday and Saturday nights, but this will not be required.

If you think you might be interested in this expedition, please contact Brian Richardson at aviator_b@msn.com.

Hell’s Hole BT-13

Over the weekend of July 14/15, 2007, AvAr field agent Alan Sparks (Class of ‘07) enteredthe Arapahoe National Forest (near Idaho Springs) at the West Chicago Creek trailhead, and ascended to more than 11,000 feet MSL in order to visit the legendary Hell’s Hole BT-13 crash site, which occurred September 2, 1945.

Although not a technical climb, given the altitude and extreme terrain conditions, this was indeed a most rigorous ascent and required Alan, along with friend Ed Soulliere and K-9 pal Stanley, to set-up a base camp and spend the night.

During their 2-day visit, Alan shot more than 100 photographs and completed a fairly descriptive inventory of the crash site. Even though it has been visited over the years by hikers and campers, an official survey has not been accomplished since the actual event 62 years ago. Following a staff review, AvAr will submit its formal report to Dr. Nicole Branton, USFS North Zone Archaeologist, later this year.

If you’d like further information concerning Alan Sparks’ recent adventure, please contact him at aalhs@msn.com

TIGHAR

AvAr instructor and longtime TIGHAR (The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery) member Andrew McKenna, is presently on an expedition in the Pacific to find evidence which will support the theory that Amelia Earhart crashed on or near the island of Nikumaroro, situated in the Phoenix Island Group, some distance Southwest of Hawaii.

The eighth expedition to this island since 1989, TIGHAR funds each of these adventures solely through grants and personal endowments; this says a lot about the fortitude of this organization!

Reported daily by satellite phone, you can follow Andrew’s progress at www.tighar.org

New Equipment Report

A very important part of AvAr’s mission is to evaluate new technology that might advance the science of aviation archaeology. The following report is offered for your personal consideration and does not constitute either an endorsement nor a condemnation of this particular product.

Craftsman Laser Measuring Tool Model 320.48298

Acquired for the purpose of accurate measurements over difficult terrain, this tool proved a valuable asset at its debut on the Glendo Monomail site. With its “point and shoot” ease of operations, the recorder quickly measures distances (up to 150 feet) in either standard or metric format. Lightweight and compact, this is an invaluable tool when you plan to pack light and travel to remote sites. The only setback is the fact that its laser-light technology is susceptible to intense ambient light, requiring adjustments (specified in the operators manual) to be made concerning positioning of the operator.

AvAr’s final evaluation: this is a valuable tool and should be considered as standard equipment in [our] basic field kit.

If you’re planning an expedition and would like to use the Craftsman Laser Measuring Tool, contact Brian Richardson at aviator_b@msn.com. AvAr is happy to provide this significant tool to any qualified (graduate) field agent.

Send comments, corrections or submissions to aviator_b@msn.com

AvAr Bulletin #014

AvAr Bulletin: 014

Subject: AvAr Class 0701; Jimmy Camp B-24 Crash Site; Return to Jimmy Camp;

New AvAr Brochure; AvAr Website

Date: May 13, 2007

AvAr Class 0701

Over the weekends of May 5/6 and May 12, 2007, the second class of AvAr trainees earned their diplomas and credentials. Although a fairly small class by last year’s standards, this five member group has already begun contributing to the program.

All five of last year’s instructors returned with new and improved course materials. In addition, two new instructors joined the AvAr staff and made presentations this year. Cadre for the 2007 course included:

Dr. Nicole Branton – Federal Regulations and Laws of the Land

Duke Sumonia – Research Methodology and Techniques

Len Wallace – Case Studies

Ron Miller – Orienteering, Case Studies and Metal Detecting

Brian Richardson – Site Investigation and Documentation

Larry Liebrecht (Class of 2006) – Aerial Imagery

Lance Barber (Class of 2006) – Ordnance Identification

And a special thanks goes out once again to professor Steve Hankle of Redstone College of Aviation Technology. Lending his considerable technical expertise in identifying aircraft components, as well as conducting tours of the facility on his day off provided a considerable learning experience for AvAr’s students.

If you know of any person who might be a candidate for this training course, please have them contact Brian Richardson at aviator_b@msn.com or (970) 405-5377.

Jimmy Camp B-24 Crash Site

Selected as the 2007 AvAr graduation field exercise, 12 members of AvAr, along with one guest, spent approximately 3 (36 cumulative) hours combing the crash site of a B-24J bomber that went down just 4 miles East of Colorado Springs Airport nearly 63 years ago, killing all 9 crewmembers on board.

Although the official USAAF accident report states that the bomber collided with another while in formation flight and then went into a “flat spin” and crashed, the evidence revealed on site thus far does not seem to agree with that report. More than 170 targets were identified, either visually or with metal detectors, along a 1/8^th mile by 150-foot wide [linear] debris field. Such evidence is not conducive with the results of an aircraft that crashed to earth in a flat spin! However, as pointed out by Larry Carpenter (Class of 2007), original crash site photographs taken in 1944 illustrate – what is apparently a wing section exhibiting – classic evidence of a flat spin. Further investigation is definitely warranted.

Return to Jimmy Camp

We'll be returning to Jimmy Camp on Saturday, June 23rd. Arrangements are being made to have a local CAP Squadron supply some cadets to bag the debris and help record. An advance team will go down on the Friday before and grid the area using surveyor's paint. Our mission will be to record and collect all (or as much as we can) of the surface debris on this trip. Once this process is done, we will sweep the area again and plan a subsurface attack strategy for the larger finds. The city administrators are behind us one hundred percent on this.

The Society would appreciate having as many of you on hand as possible to help with this excavation. Our plan is that a field agent, accompanied by a cadet or two, will be assigned a grid. That grid team will recover any debris found and, if it has any sort of markings or is clearly discernible as a specific part, they will record its location within the grid and its description. It will then be bagged separately from the other non-descript debris found in that grid. (Don’t worry about identifying parts: AvAr team members skilled in this area will be on-site to assist.)

AvAr will provide sandwich fixings, ice, soda and water for all, so we’ll need an accurate count as soon as possible. As with the last trip we’d like to get everyone down there early and out reasonably early in the afternoon, perhaps by three pm. If any of you would like to carpool, let's start talking now.

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New AvAr Brochure

The Society has authorized AvAr to create a new advertising brochure. Developed with economy in mind, this flyer will be a one-third (1/3) page, front and back glossy, color advertisement. Any suggestions or comments regarding this format would be greatly appreciated. Now’s your chance to contribute what you think AvAr is all about. Let’s hear from you soon. All submissions will be kept completely confidential!

AvAr Website

The AvAr website previously found at www.Coloradoaviationarchaeology.org will be moving back to the Colorado Aviation Historical Society’s preferred website, located at www.coloradoaviationhistoricalsociety.org . Our former Webmaster, Matt “Frenchie” Hensarling (Class of 2006), is no longer capable of managing this tremendous asset. Outside contractors will be administering the new website before year’s end.

Send comments, corrections or submissions to aviator_b@msn.com

AvAr Bulletin #013

AvAr Bulletin: 013

Subject: 2007 Training Course; New CAHS/AvAr Brochure

Date: April 7, 2007

2007 AvAr Training Course

Over the weekend of May 5/6, AvAr will indoctrinate its 2007 cycle of trainees. The subject of this years field exercise will be a 1943 Consolidated B-24 bomber crash site situated a few miles East of Colorado Springs.

Along with the 2007 students, previous graduates are welcome to attend (free of charge) the May 12^th,field exercise to learn new and special techniques being taught.

Even though you may have completed a previous training cycle and have earned official AvAr certification, this year’s field training (class) exercise is open to all AvAr members who wish to attend. Whether you want to hone your skills after a long winter hiatus or simply add another notch to your belt; all AvAr team members are welcome to participate in this expedition.

If you know of any person who might be a candidate for this training course, please recommend them to our website www.coloradoaviationarchaeology.org and have them complete an application. If they should require further information, urge them to contact me at either aviator_b@msn.com or (970) 405-5377.

New CAHS/AvAr Brochure

For the first time in nearly fourteen years the Society is considering a serious rewrite of its age-old advertising brochure. Intended to inform the public of our vital mission and to attract prospective new members, this long awaited pamphlet is expected to project a new and revitalized image of the Society.

AvAr Class 62406 alumna Sue Anderson, has contributed greatly to this most significant project. You can expect a new flyer sometime later this year after Board approval.

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Sterling RB-24E

If you’ll recall, an AvAr team was dispatched last year to an area about 20 miles Northwest of Sterling to search for a 1943 RB-24E crash site. Following two separate attempts, the site was finally located and documented late last fall.

Thanks to the continuing efforts of Duke Sumonia, the only surviving crew member of that ill-fated aircraft has been located in Pennsylvania. Better yet, thanks to Duke, the City of Sterling has invited this airman to its upcoming 4^th of July celebration, which will be honoring veterans as its central theme this year.

Duke Sumonia, accompanied by fellow AvAr staff member Len Wallace, will be making a special presentation concerning this historic crash site to the citizens of Sterling on Independence Day 2007. The city fathers have decided to honor this specific crash site with a special memorial.

Only two hours drive North on I-76 from Denver, Sterling is supposed to have one of the best fireworks displays in the State. AvAr program director Brian Richardson plans to attend with his family.

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Wings Over the Rockies Museum

If you’ve been following the great WORM saga, you’ll be pleased to know that Hangar 2 has received a stay of execution, at least for the time being.

Thanks largely in part to the efforts of AvAr staff specialist Larry Liebrecht, this truly phenomenal structure will not be demolished any time soon. But now is not the time to rest upon your laurels. If you wish to help save this unique, historic resource, contact Larry as soon as possible to learn how you might help.

You can reach him at larry.Liebrecht@comcast.net or by phoning (720) 488-6477.

Send comments, corrections or submissions to aviator_b@msn.com

AvAr Bulletin #012

AvAr Bulletin: 012

Subject: AvAr Website Update; 2006 In Review;

Date: January 15, 2007

AvAr Website Update

All AvAr trained field agents should have registered themselves on the website by this time. If you are an AvAr trained field agent who graduated from a training program in 2006 and have not yet done so, January 31, 2007 is the registration deadline.

Effective January 31, 2007, you will no longer receive AvAr Bulletins via email. Instead, these are now posted on the AvAr website. During the first quarter of 2007, whenever a new bulletin has been posted, a notification (with link) will be sent to you via email. After this first quarter, you can access new and archived bulletins by visiting the website at your leisure.

Visit your website at www.coloradoaviationarchaeology.org . While you’re there, please go the Contact Us file on the left side tool bar and take a moment to send us any comments, submissions or suggestion you might have.

2006 In Review

Since graduating our first class of 20 on June 24, 2006, AvAr field agents have criss-crossed the state visiting 12 different sites; traveled more than 6,000 road miles; taken 427 photographs for archivisation; and expended over 500 man-hours of research, travel and field time. In addition, one of our team members developed a new website which serves as a database for public use in the research of Colorado’s rich aviation history.

Along with all this increased activity, several new AvAr staff positions have been created by the program director. By title, these are: Airport Research Director (ARP); Information Technologies Director (ITD); Senior Archivist (SA); and Staff Instructors (SI). Along with exceptional resumes and demonstrated activity levels, these specialists were chosen for their obvious knowledge and ability to deliver.

The AvAr program director is pleased to announce the following assignments: Larry Liebrecht, ARP; Matthew Hensarling, ITD; Len Wallace, SA; Andrew McKenna, Ron Miller, Duke Sumonia, Len Wallace, SI. Should you have any questions concerning these specific duty assignments or responsibilities, please contact the AvAr program manager at aviator_b@msn.com .

2007 In Preview

Whereas 2006 proved a most spectacular [inaugural] year for the Colorado Aviation Historical Society AvAr program, we’re not about to rest on our laurels or lose this tremendous momentum.

Along with regularly scheduled staff meetings and training classes proposed for May and September, AvAr trained field agents will be conducting research projects throughout Colorado during 2007. Tentatively scheduled for this year:

? Adobe Creek AT-17C – Slated as a weekend (Friday thru Sunday) project, we’re looking for a Jacobs radial engine lost 60+ years ago, which is most probably buried under sand on the shore of this 5 mile long lake. A definite rattlesnake danger exists!

? Deer Trail ICBM Complex – We’ll be documenting an underground Cold-War facility that played a pivotal role in defending the continental United States. Plan on a single day for this survey.

? LaJunta Auxiliary Airfields – Satellite airfields of this once great military training base have long-since gone quiet. Most likely this will be a two-day operation.

? Pingree Park B-17 – This will be a one-day [return] expedition to complete a survey for the United States Park Service; prepare accordingly for high altitude.

? Maybell B-29 – Travel to the Northwest corner of Colorado and help solve this 50 year old mystery. This will be another weekend adventure.

Look for a posted itinerary sometime in March, 2007.

If you are an accredited CAHS AvAr field agent and would like to suggest a site for investigation, please don’t hesitate to contact the AvAr program manager at aviator_b@msn.com

Send comments, corrections or submissions to aviator_b@msn.com

AvAr Bulletin #011

AvAr Bulletin: 011

Subject: AvAr Website Update; an Important Lesson; Historic Chronicles; Adobe Creek Aerial Reconnaissance

Date: December 20, 2006

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AvAr Website Update

If you have not been to the AvAr website in a few weeks, go and take a look at the facelift Matt “Frenchie” Hensarling, AvAr’s information technologies specialist, has given it.

Over the next 3 or 4 weeks we’ll be updating many of the files on this website with information about all the activities our field agents have been involved in this past year.

Photos, activity reports and other pertinent information will be posted for public consumption. If you have anything to submit, contact mattncolorado@yahoo.com and let him know.

Sometime in the next day or two each field agent should log onto the website and sign-up for his/her personal password in order to access our newly created Field Agents file. This file will contain all the AvAr forms an agent would need for documentation purposes. Instructions for completion will be attached to each form. Only graduates of the AvAr program will be provided access to these files.

Starting January 1, 2007, you will no longer receive AvAr Bulletins via email. Instead, these will be posted on the AvAr website. During the first quarter of 2007, whenever a new bulletin has been posted, a notification (with link) will be sent to you via email. After this, you may access new and archived bulletins by visiting the website at your leisure.

An Important Lesson

For those of you who have followed our expeditions to Sterling in search of a very unique RB-24E crash site (as detailed in AvAr Bulletins 004 and 010), a very different twist on what we do and how we comport ourselves has come to light and should serve as a lesson for all.

It seems an interloper, misidentified at first as a Colorado Aviation Historical Society AvAr field agent, committed an act of trespass on the private property where this bomber crashed. Instead of seeking out the rightful property owner and requesting permission, this person apparently contacted an eye-witness we mentioned in a previous AvAr Bulletin (#004), believing this would authorize his access to the private property.

The property owner, who had been so willing and graciously accommodated our research teams previously, was incensed by this intrusion. Concerned about the security of her property, which included containment of a large herd of free-range cattle, she at first wanted to deny any future access to this historic site. After spending unnecessary time investigating this event the situation was finally resolved.

Lessons learned… do your homework! Don’t attempt to access property before you have researched public records thoroughly. Get permission from the property owner so as not to commit trespass. In addition, once permission has been acquired, display your official AvAr credentials openly so that anyone can see them. Even though this person was neither a member of the Colorado Aviation Historical Society nor a graduate of the AvAr program, because we have a very large presence in this field it was assumed this person belonged to our group.

Prior to blasting off, review the guidance published in your AvAr manual provided during indoctrination. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the AvAr program manager at aviator_b@msn.com . Never commit trespass in the name of the Colorado Aviation Historical Society!

Historic Chronicles

The Colorado Aviation Historical Society needs your help! Each and every day some person with ties of historic prominence in Colorado fly’s West, earning his or her permanent wings. With this heavenly reward comes the loss of a substantial piece of our aviation heritage. This steady hemorrhaging of assets must be stemmed!

It is to you, the trained AvAr field agent that this Society now turns in perhaps its darkest hours. By virtue of credentials, you represent the elite vanguard of this organization. No other segment of our membership can boast similar levels of commitment, dedication or specialized education. You are the best trained, most highly motivated members equipped to bring about such change.

Personal biographies, relevant stories, photographic collections, items of clothing, pieces of wreckage, old aeronautical charts, aircraft parts or other bits of memorabilia; these are all things we must begin collecting now to preserve Colorado’s unique aviation history.

If you are unsure as to how you may contribute, contact the AvAr program director. No other organization is as focused on the mission of preserving this state’s tremendous aviation heritage as is the Colorado Aviation Historical Society. Remember, we are the one true organization that best represents historic aeronautical interests in this state.

Adobe Creek Aerial Reconnaissance

While piloting his personal aircraft on a trip to Kansas City, AvAr member Alan Sparks, accompanied by his daughter Lizzie, over flew the Adobe Creek area on December 9, 2006. Their photos provided an important insight as to the seasonal nature of vegetation in the immediate area.

As can be seen in the photo above, most all of the dense vegetation has disappeared. This should afford our search teams much easier going, especially with the rattlers vacationing elsewhere for the winter.

AvAr members will definitely be returning to Adobe Creek before the 2007 spring thaw. If you’d be interested in searching this site as a part of one of our teams, please contact the AvAr program manager at aviator_b@msn.com .

~ Happy Holidays ~

Send comments, corrections or submissions to aviator_b@msn.com

AvAr Bulletin #010

AvAr Bulletin: 010

Subject: New AvAr Website; Sterling B-24E Found; Upcoming Events

Date: October 14, 2006

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New AvAr Website Launched

Early in September, Matt “Frenchie” Hensarling, AvAr’s information technologies specialist created an entirely new website devoted to the AvAr program. Although it’s still a work in progress, visitors can now access the Colorado Aviation Historical Society Aviation Archaeology program files without having to jump through as many hoops as they would on the Society website.

General information about the program, links to relevant sites, expedition information and updates, staff and instructor bios, a bulletin board, a section for completing forms on line, and much more are in the process of being developed.

To visit this website go to www.coloradoaviationarchaeology.org . While you’re there, please go the Contact Us file on the left side tool bar and take a moment to send us any comments or suggestion you might have.

Sterling B-24E

A team of five AvAr members (Larry Liebrecht, Ron Miller, Brian Richardson, Alan Sparks, and Len Wallace) returned to the Twin Buttes area some twenty miles northwest of Sterling, Colorado on October 14, 2006, to continue the search for a B-24E. Arriving in Sterling around 8:00 am, they were met by three local enthusiasts (Don Carey, Carol and Myron Graybill) who joined the procession, then by the current property owner and her mother (Janet Mathewson and Wernda Nelson) near the entrance to the buttes.

Starting their search patterns to the southwest of the buttes at 9:30 am, it was at precisely 11:42 am when the first bit of evidence was found – a 2 ¾ x 3 ¼ inch piece of aircraft aluminum. Shortly afterwards another piece was found, this time an actuator assembly

Sterling B-24E (cont.)

that was half-buried just 10 feet away. Within the hour nearly 100 pieces of debris, mostly small fragments of melted or heat damaged aluminum were found along a trail approximately 12 feet wide by 161 feet long, and heading off in a northwesterly direction. However, it was soon obvious that this was not the actual crash site but, rather, a path along which the crippled bomber had traveled on its way to the crash site.

Following a general heading suggested by the debris path of 320° magnetic, team members had walked no more than 1300 feet (1/4 mile) when they found themselves in the midst of a massive debris field. Littered with thousands of small fragments, wreckage was located over 441 feet on the longitudinal axis, and traversed over 238 feet in a latitudinal orientation, representing a debris field established at approximately 104, 958 square feet.

Some team members wielded metal detectors that continuously sounded hits, while others crouched and dug with trowels to unearth the buried evidence of this long forgotten airplane. Although most objects found were one or two inches square, the most compelling item was a hinged actuator, only a small portion of which protruded from the prairie and that was festooned with manufacturing symbols, nomenclature and numbers. Found exactly 274 feet north of the identified center of the crash site, this part will prove

invaluable in positively identifying the aircraft as well as answering some questions concerning the actual direction of travel and final orientation of the aircraft.

As it was very cold, with a light breeze and mostly overcast skies, nobody encountered any reptiles, although we did find another recently abandoned snake skin. What we did run-across, though, were quite a few truly impressive prairie tarantulas. Fortunately, Len “Snakebite” Wallace decided not to mess with any of these arachnids.

Pictures of this site survey should be available for viewing on the new AvAr website within the week. To access this site go to www.coloradoavitionarchaeology.org then to the Expeditions file on the left side tool bar.

Upcoming Events

The Colorado Aviation Historical Society will be holding its 40^th Anniversary Hall of Fame Banquet at the Lakewood Country Club on Saturday, November 11, 2006. If you have not yet received an invitation for this, the biggest Society bash of the year, please contact Bea Wilhite immediately at (303) 669-9363 or at beakhanwilhite@comcast.net. Since AvAr field agents are an especially unique group within the general membership, it would be greatly appreciated if everyone could attend this function.

Upcoming Events (cont.)

Sometime during late December or early January, AvAr members will be invited to spend a day at the Colorado Museum of History to review archived (microfiche) newspapers from Colorado dating back to 1912. We’ll be searching for anything relevant to aviation history in this state. Watch for future bulletins to announce the scheduled date(s) if you’d be interested in helping with this important project.

Send comments, corrections or submissions to aviator_b@msn.com