50 years ago- XB-70 crash

[Tom Moungovan]

It was 50 years ago on June 8th, 1966 that an XB-70 crashed near Edwards AFB in CA.

The crash was the result of one of the chase aircraft striking and shearing both tails of the B-70. The F-104 involved was one of 4 chase planes that were brought together for a photo shoot of questionable value. The others were an F-5, F-4 and a T-38.

I reported to Edwards about 10 days after the event and spent 3 years there before an early-out. I got to see the other B-70 fly many times along with other exotic aircraft like the SR-71 and XC-142. I also worked on that same T-38 that was in the air on the fateful day, 601. She was part of a group of 5 or 6 that were consecutively numbered and used for the test pilot program.

Last edited by Tom Moungovan on Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:40 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnB]

As I understand it, the photo session was at the request of GE, since all the aircraft involved had their engines.

It was "of questionable value" no more than many other marketing or promotional efforts.
The same kind of efforts WE enjoy when we see photos in books and articles.

[ALOHADAVE]

I recently visited the crash site. A memorial has been built at the site. very small pieces of debris can still be found there. The pilots are remembered...

Attachments

[JohnB]

That's a nice memorial.
It's good to see the test pilots remembered.

[DaveG]

It was ironic that the new building at the National Museum of the USAF (which now houses the surviving Valkyrie) opened to the public on the 50th anniversary of the crash. I help admin a Facebook page on the XB-70 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/XB70Valkyrie/) and we have family members of several of the Valkyrie pilots as members on the page.

I am hoping to convince the fine folks at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation to honor Carl Cross (killed in the crash of the second Valkyrie) in some way. He was born and is buried in Tennessee. The engines were tested at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, TN and Avco Manufacturing in Nashville built the aft section of the upper fuselage. There's not a ton of info out there on him, so if anyone has any info on his career, please share!

Dave

[Tom Moungovan]

It was ironic that the new building at the National Museum of the USAF (which now houses the surviving Valkyrie) opened to the public on the 50th anniversary of the crash. I help admin a Facebook page on the XB-70 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/XB70Valkyrie/) and we have family members of several of the Valkyrie pilots as members on the page.

I am hoping to convince the fine folks at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation to honor Carl Cross (killed in the crash of the second Valkyrie) in some way. He was born and is buried in Tennessee. The engines were tested at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex in Tullahoma, TN and Avco Manufacturing in Nashville built the aft section of the upper fuselage. There's not a ton of info out there on him, so if anyone has any info on his career, please share!

Dave

IIRC, she left Edwards in March of 1969 and there wasn't hardly a soul on base that was not witness to the event. I was told that the dental office emptied and that they even let the prisoners out for a few minutes. I will never forget how you could still hear that crackle of the engines even when she was over the Rocket Site, some miles away.