Sierra Corsair
Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:13 am
Hey:
Has anyone kept abreast of the Corsair that belly landed high in the Sierras, actually within 20-50 miles from Yosemite back in the early 50's. It was a marine plane that ran into a problem, and landed in flat area of a mountain at over 10-12k feet! Evidently the pilot got out ok.
The story gets even weirder. Around 1989 or 91 or so, a gentleman tried to have a helo recover this Corsair. The altitude was so high the helo had some kind or rotor stall and crashed, killing the pilot. Another attempt was made, and the plane was recovered. However, I never did find out where the heck the Corsair went. Anyone know?
Has anyone kept abreast of the Corsair that belly landed high in the Sierras, actually within 20-50 miles from Yosemite back in the early 50's. It was a marine plane that ran into a problem, and landed in flat area of a mountain at over 10-12k feet! Evidently the pilot got out ok.
The story gets even weirder. Around 1989 or 91 or so, a gentleman tried to have a helo recover this Corsair. The altitude was so high the helo had some kind or rotor stall and crashed, killing the pilot. Another attempt was made, and the plane was recovered. However, I never did find out where the heck the Corsair went. Anyone know?
BW
Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:24 am
Ther was this airline mechanic that went around the West looting every Corsair wreck he could find. He probably has a big chunk of it
Sat Nov 06, 2004 4:04 am
It is the -4 that was at TOM RILEYS in FLA. With a leafspring repaired spar
Leafspring Corsair
Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:12 pm
Sounds about right, I believe it is.
Phil
Phil
Mountain Corsair tales
Sat Nov 06, 2004 8:47 pm
How about one in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness near Red Bluff, California? VERY intact and complete. It was thought to probably have come in gently in deep snow, with pilot probably walking away but maybe dying in the harsh climate. It is almost certain the Navy or Marines never found this one. Some hikers did though. They tried to take me to it several years later in 1993 but one was injured in a fall down a steep embankment as we neared the area. That was a major ordeal getting him out. There was an extensive fire in that area between when they found it and 1993, I forget the year. Their story sounds pretty far fetched, I know, but they were quite sincere and took time off work and spent much to take me in there... a three day plus adventure.
I have more details, of course, but am still sitting tight on it even these 11 years later. Wishful thinking maybe, but some friends with more funding than me would like to go back.
My theories are that this one was either destroyed in that big forest fire in the late 80s. Found and secretly removed with identity change (probably not, but wouldn't that be that most tempting thing to do?). Still there waiting (hopefully). I ruled out a mis-identified airplane. The hikers knew Corsairs well from being avid Baa Baa Black Sheep TV show fans, and they described tail markings, and other particulars. Once I tried researching missing Corsairs from West Coast bases but that was a bigger project than I had resources for.
As intriguing as this tale is, I found out about this airplane only while tracking down yet another Corsair in the Red Bluff area (west of) covered up near an out building on a reclusive fellow's ranch. No, I doubt they are the same airplane, though stranger things have happened. I'd like to write a book about that whole story someday. I told Rob Mears a little about it a couple of years ago.
I have more details, of course, but am still sitting tight on it even these 11 years later. Wishful thinking maybe, but some friends with more funding than me would like to go back.
My theories are that this one was either destroyed in that big forest fire in the late 80s. Found and secretly removed with identity change (probably not, but wouldn't that be that most tempting thing to do?). Still there waiting (hopefully). I ruled out a mis-identified airplane. The hikers knew Corsairs well from being avid Baa Baa Black Sheep TV show fans, and they described tail markings, and other particulars. Once I tried researching missing Corsairs from West Coast bases but that was a bigger project than I had resources for.
As intriguing as this tale is, I found out about this airplane only while tracking down yet another Corsair in the Red Bluff area (west of) covered up near an out building on a reclusive fellow's ranch. No, I doubt they are the same airplane, though stranger things have happened. I'd like to write a book about that whole story someday. I told Rob Mears a little about it a couple of years ago.
L. Thompson
Sat Nov 06, 2004 9:35 pm
I said in the earlier post, "...another Corsair in the Red Bluff area (west of) covered up near an out building..."
That should have said "just east of" in the parenthesis. The yolla Bollys are west of.
That should have said "just east of" in the parenthesis. The yolla Bollys are west of.
Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:03 pm
Hi there Mr. Thompson,
Remember the posts regarding the Corsair in North California. Did you ever get to see the plane, or how did that thing end?
T J Johansen
Oslo, NORWAY
Remember the posts regarding the Corsair in North California. Did you ever get to see the plane, or how did that thing end?
T J Johansen
Oslo, NORWAY
Re: Sierra Corsair
Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:50 pm
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X17917&key=1HarvardIV wrote:Around 1989 or 91 or so, a gentleman tried to have a helo recover this Corsair. The altitude was so high the helo had some kind or rotor stall and crashed, killing the pilot.
Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:39 pm
Wow, that's interesting. Thanks Brandon. I'm wondering what the condition the Corsair was in upon discovery? It would be interesting to see.
Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:30 pm
Ouch! 
That's a heck of a way to go.
That's a heck of a way to go.
sierra f4u
Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:00 am
I wonder how much stuff was recovered before the accident?
Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:35 am
Maybe this entire thread should be deleted as well?
Strange days again
Mon Nov 08, 2004 6:12 am
Naw, Havad..they already know what we know....I don't really need to
know the "project emplacement / artifact recovery" ratio was, I was
just curious.
Havad 4, ixnay on the avynay projects..some "details" are best discussed
in private.
Ya know guys I just realized a really ironic fact! On another thread we are publicly discussing the merits of a river recovery and the inverse
downside of... "it's worth a million", revolutionaries, "mordida" to gubment
officials, angry natives who don't like ANYONE outside tha 'hood, drug
cartels, and kidnapping etc. When yer done with that...ya still got travel,
lodgings, support costs including hiring the "local straight-shooter".
OR
Recover an F4u in the U.S....and NHC "goofy crap"....
Hmmmmmnnn......the bumpy road south is starting to look smoother
under the current conditions in the homeland!
Thanx for the "body-check" Rob!
know the "project emplacement / artifact recovery" ratio was, I was
just curious.
Havad 4, ixnay on the avynay projects..some "details" are best discussed
in private.
Ya know guys I just realized a really ironic fact! On another thread we are publicly discussing the merits of a river recovery and the inverse
downside of... "it's worth a million", revolutionaries, "mordida" to gubment
officials, angry natives who don't like ANYONE outside tha 'hood, drug
cartels, and kidnapping etc. When yer done with that...ya still got travel,
lodgings, support costs including hiring the "local straight-shooter".
OR
Recover an F4u in the U.S....and NHC "goofy crap"....
Hmmmmmnnn......the bumpy road south is starting to look smoother
under the current conditions in the homeland!
Thanx for the "body-check" Rob!