This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Post a reply

Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:19 am

Would anyone happened to have visited San Clemente Island, California? Do you have any pics to share? Thanks

I see aircraft 32° 50.245'N 118° 24.665'W
32° 49.664'N 118° 26.180'W
32° 49.702'N 118° 26.325'W
I see artillery, 6 emplacements 32° 49.005'N 118° 25.942'W
I see a tank turret 32° 51.446'N 118° 24.927'W
and lots of other things I can't ID....

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Sun Jul 19, 2015 3:04 pm

I've tried entering those coordinates without luck. Please describe where in the island...it's not that big. I did see some old ac targets (A-7s?) parked on the abandoned airstrip in the center of the island.

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:28 pm

Using google maps, looks like your first coordinates show several generic target aircraft shapes on a dummy airstrip.

Second coordinate has an error does not work.

Third coordinate looks like a F-4 Phantom target, mostly destroyed. Another near by. Wing shape quite distinctive.

I note an A-7, a first generation Harrier and perhaps a wingless MiG 23/27 at 32.946705, -118.531591 (or maybe it is a F-111, but looks too small for a 111) along a row or target vehicles near the main old strip center island.

Lots of interesting targets out there.

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:31 pm

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

That turret looks like it was dragged about 250' from the rest of the tank(?):
Image

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:36 pm

sandiego89 wrote:I note an A-7, a first generation Harrier and perhaps a wingless MiG 23/27 at 32.946705, -118.531591 (or maybe it is a F-111, but looks too small for a 111) along a row or target vehicles near the main old strip center island.

Image

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Thu Jul 23, 2015 11:30 pm

And the goats.

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:04 am

I have some shots I took out that way in the late 90s - will post soon. I remember a couple of FJ2/3 or F-86, a single F-4 and a MQM-34.


G

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Sun Jul 26, 2015 11:18 am

Good men and thank all of you, I hadn't noticed the drag marks from the turret

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Wed Jul 29, 2015 11:16 pm

hercules130 wrote:I have some shots I took out that way in the late 90s - will post soon. I remember a couple of FJ2/3 or F-86, a single F-4 and a MQM-34.
G


Can I quote myself?

I was incorrect my photos are from San Nicholas, about 50 miles ESE of San Clemente

Image[/url][/url]

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Tue Feb 23, 2016 4:25 pm

Speaking of San Nicholas Island (of which I've been to a couple of times since I live close by, well sort of (Santa Barbara CA))
Saw this photo today posted on a facebook site.

"PB4Y-2 San Nicholas Island, North Point, 1977"

Image

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Wed Feb 24, 2016 4:02 pm

Wow - love that las t shot Mark - i wonder what happened to the airframe - people would be all over themselves to day to get a privateer even in that condition!

Tom P.

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Wed Feb 24, 2016 8:09 pm

The Amtrac looks in worse shape than the Privateer.

Re: Anyone been to San Clemente Island in California??

Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:02 pm

The is another photo of this PB4Y-2 taken during August, 1969 by R.W. Koch on page 80 of Nick Veronico & Steve Ginter's 2012 book: "Naval Fighters Number Ninety-Three - Convair PB4Y-2/P4Y-2 Privateer". It is identified as P4Y-2K BuNo 59847, drone 41. According to the caption: "The Privateer was eventually dynamited by the U.S. Navy and the remains hauled away for scrap during one of the many range clean-ups."
Post a reply