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Hiking To The CIA’s “Top Secret” Plane Crash in Death Valley
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- Published on May 15, 2025
- Check out the best electrolyte mix out there at drinklmnt.com/... for a FREE 8-count sample pack! I take LMNT everywhere with me, especially on these long hikes.
In this video, I finally attempt a hike to the legendary crashed CIA plane in the middle of Death Valley.
This plane was part of a top secret program in the 1950s as part of the United State's Cold War efforts. The program was a joint program between the Air Force and the CIA. Unfortunately, on one cold night in January of 1952, one of these planes crashed on a training mission over Death Valley.
Due to the remote and difficult nature of getting to the airplane, it was left there. Now, 73 years later, I hiked in to see what it was all about!
I hope you enjoy!
You can follow my journey on Instagram: / brentwunderwood
Cerro Gordo T-Shirts and more: store.cerrogor...
Mailing Address: PO Box 490, Lone Pine, CA 93545
THANK YOU!
I’ve been in a wheelchair since 1986 and it’s people like you that go on these adventures and videotape it, which allows me to share the experience and I want to tell you how grateful I am for that, so thank you.
That’s very kind of you to say, I’m glad you enjoy the videos!
damn. i've never thought about it like that. i would gladly take more vids from that perspctive
An important piece of perspective. Thank you.
It wouldn't allow you to go here, but a friend of mine builds lever drive hiking chairs.
Yea, what he said! In my younger days, I ran amuk all over the Colorado Rockies! Camping, fishing, and a lot of exploring caves and old mines! Now I'm 66 and can't walk. I'm going in for spinal surgery and a tumor biopsy in two days. If not for videos like yours, I would never get to see all this cool stuff! Thanks for letting us old guys tag along! 👍❤️😉😁
I'd heard about the crash (my dad worked at China Lake 1959-1988), but had never heard of anyone actually hiking out to it. Kudos to you for taking the time!
I did in college, 1999 or so.
It’s full of bullet holes. There have been a lot of hikers doing vandalism.
cant read or hear "china-lake" without going
"kuh-thunk! chickchick"😂
@thereissomecoolstuff uhm, if theres vandalism, those arent hikers.
they became vandals when they committed vandalism.
hikers dont do that.
Ok I have not watched all the way through, but have a question. Dropping down a wash like that, how do you know you can climb back up? Thanks
Hey Brent: What a hike!. 23:05 Part of a wing float-probably left. 23:16 Engine air-oil cooler from under engine. 23:52 Stromberg Carburetor from top of engine. 24:30 tanks of CO2 for fire extinguishing system. Green is oxygen. 24:42 Sun gears from engine nose case. Part of rom reduction from eng to prop to increase torque and prevent prop tips from going supersonic 2800 eng rpm = 1920 prop rpm. 25:07 Left engine power case half. Wright R-1820 Cyclone eng with 9 cylinders. Inside LORAN in a low frequency ground based navigation system with long range over water. 28:42 Right engine with exhaust ring and parts of 3-bladed prop. Awesome video - Thanks.
Auto correct wants to call L O R AN Moran.
It was pretty great in the early 50's and I used L o r a n C in the late 70's (pre gps) and thought it was much better than celestial navigation. It was dependent on ground stations that you couldn't receive far off shore or in Southern latatudes. I remember getting lost near the Dominican Republic once and had to use my RDF.
That is really old school. GPS takes the anxiety away from navigation!
I figured the Stromberg was part of the engine 👍
So cool 👍 appreciate it.
Thanks for the info mate.
@@Ozcrazy49amazing where Aussies turn up 😂
Check out history of the Black Cats
In the late 1970's I was a Civil Air Patrol pilot in California and I and my aircrew were photographing aircraft crash sites. One of the sites selected was the Grumman Albatross site on a mountain side in Death Valley. We flew out and found the wreck site and spent about 30 minutes taking photos of it. I still have copies of it in my archives. We could not gather the logistics to hike into it. I'm glad someone did.
I'm a CAP pilot in Idaho currently and enjoy watching these videos and reading the comments that hit close to home.
Hi Brent, I lost my ability to walk in a semi accident about 5 years ago. So, as well as all the mine shafts you've taken me down, thanks for stuffing me in your backpack and taking me on this hike and sharing another amazing view I would've otherwise missed in my life. Haveva safe hike back brother. ✌️ 😁‼️
Same here albeit mine was a wipeout down the basement stairs 15 years ago and I've been living off youtube ever since because my adventure times are over. Can walk short distances indoors most days after surgeries but too much pain and zero stamina after spending all these years in bed forces you to seek adventure through others eyes - and I too really thank you who help us fulfil out empty lives!
@halftag15 - I hope you'll find other means to fill your life instead of it eating you up. It took me 6-7 years to win over my chronic pain. I'm still trying to get my final spinal surgery but it's a battle, despite living in a socialist country with "free" healthcare... But I've got a plan and I'm sticking to it! I really miss hunting with my dogs. Only one left on borrowed time, but that was always my almost daily routine after work and I miss the nature a lot... Luckily I've done virtually everything I set out to do before my accident so I have no regrets, but I was only 35 or 36 when I had my accident so I thought I had a lot left in me. But we can't give up, right?! ;)
Best wishes from a bearded Swede!
That was the most wholesome comment I have read in awhile. I Hope
Your doing well.
Atleast it wasnt the arms big dog, still must suck. Hope you doing alright
Why do you have to make it about yourself? I feel bad for what happened to you, but please don't take the attention away from the content creator. I was dealt a shit hand with life too, but I don't start all my comments talking about my permanent health issues
@@rad2k7 What on Earth are you on? The man is just sharing a bit about themselves alongside thanking the creator for the video. The video is still there, and as far as I see his 109 likes don't exceed the 28k on the video. Just because you have a permanent health issue doesn't make you the comment warden.
The way you're expanding the reach and subject matter of your channel is really fascinating. Your enthusiasm and storytelling are captivating. You have found a space to 'develop,' and it seems to work so well.
Bro makes a video 4 times a year saying 5 years living in an abandoned ghost town. And says the same thing.
This is the truest thing! ☝🏻You know I I went to go look for that eBay listing but it sold!! 😱 Honestly the Storytelling is on point!
Thanks for the memories. I worked at Panamint Springs in the late '80s and early '90s and ventured to the plane on 4 outings. The plane has not fared well over the last 30 years. There was no plane debris in the wash at that time. Had you continued further down the canyon, you perhaps would have found my zoom lens that didn't survive a fall as we crossed a precarious location. We had determined to follow the wash back down to the Panamint Valley floor and walk back to Panamint Springs. 1/2 way down the mountain, on a wide area, we came across the plane's engine. We surmised that it had been catapulted at the time of impact and came to rest here. We then went down a couple of dry washes. But the third was a 10-foot drop, and we won't be able to climb out should we find a need to. So we decided to go back
We made it back to the flat area and spent the first night there. We each had come with a gallon of water for our day hike. Hardly any left then, and then none at all
The next morning we made our way back to the plane area. The heat of the day was now upon us. BJ made it back to the plane. I was below, finding shade wherever I could. We spent the night there in our own places. At first light I made my way back up the mountain, thinking BJ had bought it at the plane. As I crested Towns Pass and going down the other side a helicopter came down, picked me up. BJ had made it out before me. We had agreed that whoever made it out first would send a helicopter for the other. The ordeal had my left kidney shutting down. Survived that and 3 more rounds back to the plane. The beauty and the stillness of the desert is truly profound. There's a sleeping circle at the top of Towns Pass! A nice place to spend an evening!!!
PEACE BRO
Sleeping circle?: The area caught my eye on his way by… 8:39 flat, level, rock free.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It adds to the story. Stay safe on your own adventures
Awesome story & adventures! Thank you for sharing! What time of year did you attempt the hike? Sounds like it was hot already. Did you ever try to make the traverse down again? I was plotting a similar path but I'm sure I'd get stopped by a dry fall somewhere and turn back like you did. I'm planning a hike here near the end of the year. I'll keep an eye out for your lense... 🤠
@@JDU4 one of the reasons I keep returning to this channel is because of what a great story teller Brent is. I can imagine sitting around a campfire with a group of people with him telling stories all night.
Thank you for sharing your story, too, providing enough detail that after seeing the site, we can envision your first journey.
Very interesting video! You’ve rekindled my interest in the Albatross! I’m 78 and last year started back building 1/48 scale model aircraft mainly WW2 Pacific Theater. I’ve been resisting purchasing a 1/48 scale Albatross HU-16 kit bc I already have two large 1/48 scale Catalina PBY and a B-29 bomber to build. I don’t know if I have the room. In the movies “The Expendables” they flew an Albatross HU-16 and have thought of building one and painting it like in the movie (like they hit Santa Claus on the nose of the plane and presents are falling down the sides of the plane). What to do? What to do!
The ground safety lock is a piece that goes in the main landing gear to keep it from collapsing while towing.
The green tanks are oxygen supplies.
Green tanks are co2 for the engines fire suppression systems
Would there still be oxygen in the containers or seeped out long ago?
@ could be, but from my experience in aircraft high pressure oxygen systems are color coded green so extra care can be used around them when working. This being a crash from the 50’s they may have had different systems in place. I know current use fire bottles are filled with halon and the bottles look like basketballs with tubes coming out.
@ they would likely be empty
@shockershooter thank you
My father died, at 98 years old, a year and a half ago. He was an aeronautical engineer. In his early years, he worked for Bendix in South Bend, Indiana and may very well have had something to do with the tire that you mentioned in the video. In 1952, he worked for Bendix and would have been 27 years old at the time. Several years later, he went to work for General Electric and was a field representative for their military aircraft engines. He had a very interesting career, including working at Area 51 and on the first stealth aircraft. The last project he worked on before retiring was the Navy F-18 Hornet.
I would have loved to talk to him! I'm sure he had lots of stories!
@@GOGOSLIFE
^ +1.
Your Dad*
My cousin flies a Hornet.
@@Bampitas74psKR So cool. Where is he/she stationed? I married a Navy F-18 Hornet pilot. We lived on NAS Lemoore, California air station back in the 1980's. Military jets are so exciting.
I am blind but your narration has helped me get a visual picture of your entire adventure. Thank you so much 😊. Lots of love from Bhutan 🇧🇹
How precarious it’s perched, and you’re clambering all over it ! I was so worried for you. Such a great video, a remarkable story, thank you.
I was thinking the same thing. Just from wind and weather erosion him climbing around in that fuselage could've evolved into him being in that aircraft's second crash landing if it had shifted on that slope.
I was the Resident Deputy Sheriff for Death Valley/Furnace Creek in the late 90's. I covered a lot of DV including the top of Towne's Pass and didn't know about this crash until now. That would have been a nice little hike off the path.
So what was the facility to the southeast of towne pass that is now abandoned almost looks like a silo site.
were you there when the German family went offroad in a minivan and perished?
Did you ever get to see Barker and Myers Ranches? I’ll bet you heard plenty of crazy Manson Family stories….Filippo Tenerelli?
Cool! 😎 I have learned so much about the area watching Brent's adventures over the past five years.
@@Gratiotface-p2u I recently watched a video of that families story. What a tragedy.
It's Grumman, with a "U" sound like "gun." Really fascinating hike from another LMNT drinker. Your videos in 4K are breathtaking, your editing is top-notch. I am a mechanical engineer who grew up paddling around in Grumman canoes, and I appreciate all the rivets that they plied into the canoe trade. Nice surfing, by the way! Those 8 cylinders in a circle were the radial engine. You were really close! The propellor forced air through those cooling fins on the sides of the 8 cylinders for the engine. The 8 cylinders fired in a certain order to power the propellor. Nice work, you found both engines!
Grum pronounced like Drum
9 not 8 cylinders for the most part (very few exceptions but they do exist) have an odd number of cylinders per bank some have multiple banks, so only one cylinder fires at a time per bank
Thank you for correcting the pronunciation. It was driving me crazy. Of course Stromberg made carbs for all kinds of vehicles. Same with Bendix they made brakes for cars, trucks and aircraft.
The o in Rhomberg is also an uh sound not oh.
What I thought
Came here to say this, thank you! My hubby used to fly the Goose.
Hey Brent, thanks for covering this! I have a blog on hidden gems in the desert and noticed a bunch of new views on my Albatross piece thanks to your video.
I also wanted to add a few facts about this crash. The crew bailed some 20 miles before the plane crashed, so for a while it was flying with noone onboard. They actually landed in the valley so they didn't have to deal with climbing any rocks on their way out.
This is also just one of a dozen plane crashes in Death Valley (the NPS lists nearly all of them on their website). The main thing that makes this one unique, outside of the CIA connection, is how the plane crashed. The wing clipped the mountain peak, which caused the plane to lose most of its velocity and let it slide down the mountain pretty gently. Most of the other planes that crashed in the area hit the rocks head-on and virtually disintegrated on impact.
Would you mind posting the name of the blog? I like that stuff
@@randylahey1822 I post all my articles on Medium, so if you just Google "Death Valley CIA plane Medium," my link is the first one that pops up
@@randylahey1822 I post all my stuff on medium, so if you just google "Death Valley CIA plane Medium" it should be the first link
@@randylahey1822 It looks like RUclips keeps auto-deleting my response, but if you look up The CIA Plane that Crashed in Death Valley, it'll send you to my blog
@@randylahey1822 It actually looks like I can't post it. The RUclips spam filter keeps auto-deleting my response
Brent, thanks for taking us to places many of us will never get to. You are definitely one tough dude. Keep safe.
The story popped up in my newsfeed. My son is US Air Force retired, 25 years. I sent the video to him. Very interesting. Still watching.
I'm sure your son hates what Donald Trump is doing to the country he fought for
ANT COUPLER=Antenna connection
PHONE=the headphones and MIC=The microphone on the headset.
Green tanks is normally oxygen.
This is really cool.
The antenna coupler mount was part of the APN-70 LORAN receiver system
The mic and phones jacks were likely part of the intercom between the front and the back (I know those are not aeronautical terms, just easier).
28:03
An antenna coupler is a device that matches (tunes) the radio's impedance to that of the antenna. More than a connection, really.
I wish I could still physically get to some of these places. I loved to explore until age and hard work caught up to me. Glad YT is a place where others can share their experiences with everyone who can't or doesn't have time to do this.
Thanks! I now have to build the scale model kit of the Albatross.
Adding to the mystery and intrigue of the desert, great story.Made me think of Andrew Cross, aka Desert Drifter, RIP Andrew.Gone but not forgotten.
Yeah and wicked awesome that it becomes another lesser-known spot getting blown out by a RUclipsr for-profit. Shameless.
Very sad to lose Andrew. RIP!
Very weird to have a parasocial with a youtuber who falls off the perch. May He Drift The Deserts In Peace
I agree I will miss his videos his story he had a great message
@@nobodyxxxxxxxxbe quite Karen
One thing I learned watching your videos. Is that you are fearless. Great video.
Great video.... I live in the LAKE DISTRICT of England....we have, sadly, a lot of WW2 plane crashes. The V.I.N. Plate should be in a museum.
No civilization in sight. Just you, the mountains, nature, and the sun. My god it must be so peaceful up there. Thanks for sharing this experience with us!
Thanks. This brought back a lot of good memories.
I only hiked to the site once (10/01/1980), but I have nearly 1,000 hours as an aircrewman on the HU16E. Coast Guard nicknamed it “Goat”.
The MLG ground safety lock“ stirrup “ looking thing is the Main Landing Gear Down Lock. You put that on the landing gear to prevent accidental retraction.
It only has one wing. That thing in the back of the airplane is a horizontal stabilizer.
The tip floats were also 200 gallon gas tanks.
The rough area on the side of the fuselage was damaged by a small fire in the auxiliary power unit compartment in the back.
Depending on the version it could carry 28 people or 12 litters.
The last US Coast Guard HU16E retired on March 10, 1983.
My understanding is the crew bailed out before the mountain range and touched down closer to Stovepipe Wells.
The H designation in HU16 indicates Coast Guard.
Oh, it’s Grumman (Gr um man not Gr oo man) 😉 sorry, just sounded funny
Currently working seasonally out in Furnace creek. Did this hike about a month ago with my boyfriend and a few friends. We didn’t get down to see inside the plane or up close, because MAN what a hike. So glad you got to see it, what an awesome hidden gem in death valley!!
We work there as well, thought about doing the hike but man it looks tough haha
@@owenandashleyits definitely tough, but if you hike to Towne peak, you’ll see the plane and get all the views. Still lots of incline/decline, but if you plan for an all day hike (preferably not on a windy day) its a good one! I 100% recommend using an all-trails map, because the trail is nonexistent for 60% of the hike.
@ thank you!! We may check it out before it gets hot 😁
The history of and around Cerro Gordo is absolutely captivating . Thank you so much for bringing us along
I used to work at Bedix years ago, specifically in the department that made those wheels. I used to setup and run the machines that made those wheels. If I remember my part numbers right, that wheel was from the the front landing gear.
That's pretty crazy you came across this video then!
That is a cool coincidence. I was pretty impressed by that wheel it’s a nice cast aluminum wheel
Looks like these were made at the Bendix casting plant at 1901 N Bendix Dr, South Bend Indiana 46628
Brent mentions how the plane wreckage is precariously perched and then in the next breath he says how cool it is to sit inside. That quest for adventure is fun to watch because I always know that the outcome results in a fun video with a unique story.
I was thinking that could be an exiting skate down the wash
About 25 years ago I stopped climbing around in debt valley. I've been all over the place. While the 70 pound pack up-and-down peaks through the canyons. And down stuff that you were sliding down. It was fun. And I did it all by myself.
Retired us navy f18 pilot from Lemoore. Used to fly over this site all the time. Never heard story! Watching this 10 years after last overflight. Cool!
*Brent, the 60s surfing music is the icing on the cake (hike)!* BRAVO ZULU for the effort!
As you were climbing through the wreckage, I could see you careening down the wash. Glad you didn't end up at the bottom of the wash with the rest or the wreckage!
You seem to have the same curiosity and energy you had exploring the hills when you first got the property. I remember you sitting on a ridge, telling the story of something that had happened there - as you have also done over the intervening years. I especially enjoy these hikes & history. Thank you for sharing!
He has a special ability to hold your attention as he tells the stories! He is very interesting!!
Great hike. Great video. Thanks!
Would love to see hike/video of B-29 Superfortress crash site at Hawks Mountain, Perkinsville, VT. June 15, 1947.
Wow. My dad and I went through Cerro Gordo last week and met Brent. Neither one of us had any idea about the RUclips channel. Brent was super nice and helpful. Looking forward to binging the channel to relive our incredible trip to the area.
Wow this channel has really grown 1.78M and well deserved! 💕
HI Brent . Those engine were Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 (Studebaker), Radial 9 .
9 Cylinder . The Carbs were Stromberg PD12K10 downdraft carburetors . I hope
that helps you . I am a Mechanic for a Airline . I would say , the US government
striped the instruments out :-))
Wow that's awesome, thanks for sharing that!
Is 1820 Cubic inches or horse power? 97 the bore /stroke super cool
@@thejackofalltravels8267 cu. in. The -97 was 1200 hp
@@thejackofalltravels8267 If I understand your Question right .
1 cubic in. is one Horse Power , or 1.1 to 1.2 HP :-))
Guaranteed, they stripped the instruments and more...
Thank you, Brent for taking us along with your VERY challenging trek to see a historic relic. Your current home has blessed you to travel 900 feet below ground and now with this expedition you were inside an aircraft that could nearly reach 25,000 feet above ground. I think that there are VERY few individuals that can honestly witness such a polar opposite experience.
Reminds me of my trip to Africa and the Sahara when I was in the Army. A plane (B-24) that went down in 1943 the crew bailed out but they didn’t survive. The plane wasn’t found until 1958. We were sent to retrieve the remains of the crew.in 1960.
Ahh... Yes ! The "Lady Be Good" (nose art on the aircraft)... aka, GHOST BOMBER. Thanks for the memory jar !!
I'm so glad to see how big your channel has gotten! Great job bringing so much to Cero Gordo and it's surrounding history!!!
It's been like 4/5 years since you became my favorite human mole and ever since I still enjoy your adventures, the only thing more amazing than that is mechanical parts in the middle of nowhere still working after so many years exposed to the elements.
As someone who loves hiking, caves, mines, rocks, and hidden areas this is such a bucket list thing. And just to even do research on this. Truly incredible on how some of the color is still alive.
I live in the UK and grew up near the site of the Winter Hill Air Disaster - the passengers of which were much less fortunate than in this video! Still, I agree it's important to know the events and history of the area you live in and I've enjoyed many a quiet hike to the memorial site.
This is so amazing. For 70 years...just think of all the shelter this "wreck" has provided for life in the area that is always struggling to survive. Even if it just gave them one day of reprieve its still a help. Its poetic to know that the old bird has probably done more in death thannit really ever did in life. Thank you for going and showing us.
Thanks for making these videos. Almost a decade ago in 2016 I was on a road trip with my friends and we drove past Cerro Gordo, knowing nothing about it. Your videos have really made an impact, and I hope someday we can come back and experience the new and invigorated Cerro Gordo.
The “Ground Safety Lock” is a device used after landing and removed before take off. Each main mount landing gear has one, prior to takeoff. They are stowed in the landing gear compartment for flight, and installed upon parking the aircraft. This is done for safety in case the hydraulic pressure fails to hold the aircraft up.
Greetings from Germany... Hey Brent at 21:21 that rusty old 'Air Tank Bottle' is actually a Fire Bottle for what I think is for the engine fire protection. It can be activated from the cockpit in case of an engine fire. Each engine would have one mounted some where near/inside the engine cowling. MLG Main Landing Gear.
@ 23:10 one of the wing tip pontoons. @ 25:20 definitely one of the engines. @ 27:00 'Military Green' is the primer for corrosion control 'Zink Cromate' (Spelling?) also used on Civilian Air Craft. @ 28:47 view of back side of the engine with the Prop buried underneath. Main point is you made it safely back down the mountain and back home again. Looking forward to your next adventure. 😉
LORAN (Long Range Navigation) was a hyperbolic radio navigation system developed in the United States during World War II.
This was part of what you saw inside the plane with the headphone & microphone jack. The system was the AN / APN-4. Which was their equivalent of a GPS system for airplanes during and post WW2.
The C-70A/AIA-2A in the same area as the LORAN was a control box for the navigator working the LORAN to speak interplane as well as connect to the radio.
Mad respect to you and the other content creators who do stuff like you do, preserving history for future generations.
I've done a lot of hiking in this area. He makes it look WAY easier than it is.
This place is no joke, hats off to him
Looks extremely dangerous for sure
Coming back up the wash is mind blowing. That had to be SO hard with the rocks slipping back with every step.
@@matthewbeasley7765 Exactly! I've felt like every step only advanced 2 inches. Or the psychology of pushing through "if I can just make it to the top of this peak", only to find out there's another peak, then another.
The "romberg injection carburator" is actually stromberg (carbs control fuel to the motor), and they make carbs for everything. Neat find, particularly since its melted. That means whatever engine it was on, was on fire.
That is the motor, its a radial 9 piston, the propeller is attached to it
My old 12 cylinder jag had 4 sidedraft Strombergs
Yes, it was my thought too that the molten aluminium was evidence indicating the cause of the crash - a fire in the port engine.
Why would a motor need a carburetor?
To run.
@@NONANTI The proper fuel to air ratio.
Thanks for taking me along on your hike into this beautiful desolation. Something I used to be able to do. I did do as you did with the rock suffering it’s tricky and you did it while filming. Glad you didn’t get hurt.
Fun Trip!! That 8 cylinder thing you counted was an engine! You found the second one next to the fuselage you went in. Propellers were probably Wood - disintegrated or more likely stolen.
Metal props
It would have 7 or 9 cylinders per row. You can only have an even number of cylinders by using 2 or 4 rows of cylinders.
@@bkailua1224 Those were 9 cylinder radial engines, not in-line.
28:44 I believe there is one of the prop blades to the bottom of the motor. Hard to tell if it's a prop blade or a piece of debris that looks like a prop. Also looks like another to the right.
He passed the first propeller hub @24:35 (next to the orange box, the thing with multiple gears sticking out of it). Variable pitch, all metal.
I live in Ridgecrest and worked at China Lake for many years. I’ve heard of the plane , but never knew exactly where it was.Thanks for making the effort to locate and hike up to video the CIA Albatross. It was very enjoyable.
What a BLAST !! This is , by far, one of your BEST videos so far. What great footage you captured here. Thanks for all the insight on this sad, but memorable crash.
I've never worked on one of these, but I am an A&P (aircraft mechanic) and have worked on many things of similar vintage. To answer your question about the data tag. Taking amd selling one is a big no no. Obviously very disrespectful to anyone that wants to enjoy the artifact as it is. But also the faa has a long history of going after people taking and selling data tags, people have been known to swap data tags around on aircraft like you could vin numbers. Which causes a whole host of airworthiness concerns. I'm sure the airforce has something to say about them stealing parts from their aircraft as well. 21:30 Almost certainly an oxygen bottle. Especially considering how many you found and one still sporting it's green. Required equipment for flying over 12500'. Albatross could almost double that altitude. 22:20 MLG is main landing gear. This is one of the locks to ensure the gear will not retract by accident when on the ground. Usually used when towing in and out of hangers or during maintenance. It would have been stored inside the aircraft before takeoff. 23:10 looks like part of one of the pontoons. 23:15 I don't know, a albatross specific mechanic has to answer that on. Looks kinda like a heat exchanger or possibly the airbox for one of the engines. 23:50 is indeed the carbeurator. A very cool find. 24:40 Normally red/orange boxes like this are the notorious "black box" media loves to call them. It'll hold the fdr/cvr to record the flight audio and/or flight parameters for later investigations. Being a double walled box with some thick sheet metal, I'm pretty certain this is what it is. This is the first thing those investigators would have been looking for. And it look like they found it and left the case. 25:15 that's indeed one of the engines. 9 cylinder write radial. Each one is (was) good for almost 1500hp! 27:30 some sort of radio lived there. An older airforce guy would have more to say. All I recognize is the plugs ins for your headset. 28:10 is identification of the sheet metal. Clad sheet metal is highly resistant to corrosion, you can see it's done it's job very well. 28:40 The second engine. Though curious you mention propellers, haven't seen remnants of either one. That's all I got. Love to hear, more from somone that's actually worked on this bird.
Wow, great info! thanks.
Thank you for the incredibly detailed analysis. I wonder if the "black" orange box case was left on a visible place on purpose to save time in further investigations.
You are absolutely correct and I agree with your assessment of this situation
Looks like there are 2 white propellor blades under the second radial motor at 28:44
The FAA should’ve sent a team to get the data tag off this wreck to prevent others from swiping it. Seriously.
That area looks both beautiful and desolate at the same time. Great respect to you for venturing into those mines and mountains by yourself. I hiked alone mostly in my hiking days, but in places that were cuddly compared to yours.
thank you for taking us all on this hike.
This is awesome, the history just elevates the story and really makes me feel like im there, even from Australia 😊
On the whole it is really refreshing that your viewers are very supportive, friendly, and enjoy your content. Thank you to all those who commented with information about the plane and sharing your personal stories. I am thankful that the community of this channel is caring and supportive to the work Brent is doing.
I'm from South Bend, Indiana and my grand father worked for the Bendix company. Hearing you mention it at the 19:40 mark was positively surreal.
I really enjoy all of your videos, and because of you LMNT is always in our house.
Cool. Brent comes up with amazing content. He can leave you in a state of fear and awe, with his explorations and finds.❤
Wow, that's AWESOME Brent! Thanks for taking us out there!
im 60 yrs. old and been watching your video,s for several yrs now. i started watching when i lived in a mining town called kearny AZ. but now i live in EDWARDS CALIFORNIA. and still watch your videos. i think what your doing is great. you can thank desil dave because that,s how i learned about SERA GORDO
Love your channel and I have to admit that I find myself holding my breath sometimes. Especially when you are rock surfing or crawling down into your mine. Then I remember that you have to have made it back safely in order to post the video. Living precariously through your adventures. Thanks for sharing ❤
Something I love to hear is that the cameraman never dies in the the movies haha I guess the same could be said about RUclips videos
What you called the propellers are the Radial engines. They fire in a circular fashion. They are air cooled and were known to be very reliable.
Thank you for taking us on another really cool adventure!! ✈️
Incredible, loved this. Always love watching your video my brother. From a former Californian and current Vancouverite
I had seen this crash on another trekers adventure. you made it more interesting, and made the extra effort to show more down hill....Thanks for that.
27:43 LORAN was a long-range hyperbolic radio navigation system, like an old timey land based gps. This section is the antenna coupler that linked the antenna with the receiver, probably an AN/APN-4
Alclad 14ST6 would be the type of aluminum alloy the skin was made of. 14 is the alloying element, ST6 is the temper and alclad means it has a bonded outer layer of pure aluminum for corrosion protection. The modern designation would be 2014-T6
I was thinking how much that aluminum rim at 19:41 would be worth in scrap 😂. I don’t scrap metal but a lot of people do it in my area so I’m always kind of curious how much they’d get for something. I imagine the amount of aluminum still laying around this crash site is a testament to how difficult it is to reach because if it was any easier to access people would have been scrapping as much of the wreck as they could. I’m sure people have taken some stuff but there’s still a lot of material out there.
My name is Riley too btw 😂
great adventure, thanks for taking me with you. what a view !
Hey thank you for the journey!!! Im a disabled veteran so i cant get out much. Ive watched ur vids and even ur music is soothing. I used to hike with my husband. Very nice, quiet and breathtaking. Thank you!!
What a great adventure! You did a great job explaining the incident.
I saw one of the radial engines under the plane when you first got to the crash site, also the tank down below looks to be a halon tank for fire suppression the ones with the green banding. Then down below yes you found another radial engine and a carb. The cowling with the loop was a wing float with the dock tie off loop still intact
Came down to here to make sure someone already identified the radial engine. Around the 26 minute mark is the second in the wash. Would have expected the prop to still be attached, but maybe it was vandalized... It appears to still be on the engine next to the plane.
Would have expected more of the cockpit to still be around. :-/
You make some cool vids bro. Love from Australia
amazing, thanks for your hard work in showing this to us
Love the mining content but sure like when you take out to these other adventures. I sure like learning about history when I have been out traveling and learning about the areas that I go. Been following you almost since the beginning. Keep up what you do, so cool. Thank you
There is something magic in the manner you narrate your content that no one else could ever duplicate. Thank you for sharing this episode with us. So special.
In 1974 I owned and operated a Tool Rental and Equipment Rental company in Houston TX. I worked on our air compressors that used the same Radial engines as this airplane, although smaller horsepower. I found them interesting and cool to look at and hear them running. They were very reliable except for one issue-the magneto ignition. It seemed to have a mind of its own. On some damp mornings or anytime it seemed to fail not providing a spark as needed. They were made in N. Y.
Magnetos are prone to lose spark due to any impact at all. Also'
''Reasons for intermittent spark - bad condenser, bad coil, dirty points (oil, grease, dust, moisture), carbon track in mag cover, moisture in cover, carbon fouling in plug (it may fire out of engine, but short out under compression), Hi tension lead casing insulation failing (intermittent short to block), bad mag ground to block (loosen and tighten bolts several times to make good contact), corroded hi tension lead out from coil.''
The geocaches you found on your way to it are meant to do exactly that, get people out into the open and learn about the places around them. We put out geocaches with the intent of getting people where they wouldn't normally go and learning about interesting, not well known little bits of history.
It's a register .. geocaches aren't out in the open..... and have prizes in them
@@speedfreak8200 geocaches do not always have prizes in them. "Prizes" are not the point of geocaching.
The logbook is the integral part of geocaching. Signing the log is the point.
Sure, they're often hidden, but in the rocks 7k feet up in Death Valley qualifies as hidden
Edit: I re-watched that first segment and given the dates on some of the logs, this may not be a geocache. I will check the area for caches.
Ooooooooooo..........got'em!!!!!
Geocachers are creepy trespassers. Mostly blue haired liberal types living in group relationships, pleasuring themselves with huge amounts of gluttony and hedonism. Not something the average person should get into.
Depends I have definitely found one that was put out in the open but was still hard to see found it when I was a kid climbing on rocks next to the big river also seen a 🍄 that could have made me trip lol or make you go to the hospital is try it now to not be sober plus I hear worse case your stomach hurts n have to get it pumped or something well I guess idk there could be a look alike that could eliminate me uhh could pick it n research it till your 99% sure they say don't eat a plant if your not a hundred percent surei say what in life is 100% not much until you eat a shroom you don't know unless maybe your a egg head n test it first but if you have money to test your drugs your not getting your drugs from thr forest
Interesting - I worked on avionics for the last remaining HU-16 in the US Navy's inventory in the late 1970s. This was at USNS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
Incredible trip back in history. Thanks for bringing us along. Wonderful that the 6 people were able to safely parachute out before the crash
Thanks for taking me along on your inspiring trips, living the life a bit through you. This video gives me so much energy, this is bucketlist stuff.
Terrific video...not an easy hike either. Kudos!
I knew all the "Aviation experts" couldn't resist chiming in for every little mistake. Insert "ACKCHULLLY" meme here...😅
I chose to just enjoy the episode and beautiful scenery. Thanks for putting in the work, Brent!
ditto lol
He asked for the information, that's why.
He specifically requested that anyone who knew better than him, should post in the comments.
The view is ackchullly much better if you don't look down your nose at the world.
@@Doin_the_best_I_can All RUclipsrs say "Let me know what you think in the comments" because of the algorithm.
@cyc4usa706 I have watched a gazillion YT videos. I u
If you had really watched this video, you would have heard him specifically ask for airplane experts to fill him in on the details. I think you should go back and watch it again. There are probably other things that you missed. It also might help the algorithm.
Regarding removal of parts of that plane, I thought it was in Death Valley National Park. If that’s the case it would be illegal to do that.
That's awesome that the wheels were made at Bendix in South Bend. I am from La Porte, IN and I was born and work in South Bend! Thanks for going on this hike Brent!
Hey Brent,
I’ve been watching your videos since the beginning of COVID, it’s crazy to see how far your channel has came.
You deserve all the success.
What a sweet adventure! Awesome airplane crash, thank you for taking us along for the ride! Also, thank you for keeping stuff like this safe and educating us about them. People who steal from these sorts of sites are very uncool. Here are some of my thoughts on what you saw:
-22:20 That "Ground safety lock" would have been used to secure some part of the aircraft in a certain position while on the ground. That sort of thing can be used on the landing gear or other moving parts of aircraft to ensure nothing weird happens and nothing moves that shouldn't be moving. I am not sure where that part specifically would have gone though.
-The big silver thing at 23:15 would have been one of the floats out on the wigntips of the airplane and would have kept it stable when in water.
-The thing with all of the holes seen at 23:16 is most likely an oil cooler/radiator for the engines.
-23:50 That is probably the carburetor (or fuel injection regulator) for one of the engines. The carburetor mixes the fuel and air entering an engine, which would explain why it could have some burn marks. I'm not certain but it could have also been a fuel injector which injects the fuel directly into the cylinders rather than mixing the air and fuel before it enters the engine.
-All those tanks you were seeing around 24:20 I would guess are some sort of oxygen tanks. Definitely not fuel tanks for the aircraft, but could be for some other type of compressed gas.
-25:15 -That is definitely the engine! It looks to be a nine cylinder radial engine (all radial engines have an odd number of cylinders). The thing seen at 28:35 is the other engine, definitely not a propeller :). Radial engines do look weird, a lot different than what we use today.
-24:45 That box definitely held something important. I want to say that that could have at one time held the "black box" or flight data recorder, but I'm not sure lol.
The fact that we get free videos on RUclips by Ghost Town Living is truly a gift; keeping knowledge and entertainment alive. 👏
First thing I thought when you stated planes were flying over you: they were dispersed to check you out! - Desert Deb of the High Desert
Cool vid mate. Tganks for sharing the adventure
Thank you for this experience! It was so cool seeing this plane as it was after it crashed 70 years ago and the story that left it there for others to see. A big plus is knowning all of our men survived!
The fact that everyone survived is incredible….
Because they bailed out, "hit the silk" before impact
@@JohnMoses1897 Afortunádamente, se dieron cuenta de que saltaban de una ó morirían intentado salvar el avión, ya que parece que conocían el territorio, ó al menos había luz suficiente como para ver por dónde andaban, y sabrían también las mañas tanto del avión como de sus motores, y los márgenes de tiempo con que podrían contar , unos escasos pocos minutos y adios !!!, Muy bien atinada la tripulación, si eran pilotos experimentados de la SGM, sabían cómo venía la cosa!!!
Of course they did they were CIA
That "military green" is actually a zinc oxide coating to prevent corrosion.
LORAN is an HF navigation radio. That is the coupler for the antenna.
C-70A/ATA-2A is the internal intercom.
So given the stuff that was there it was probably tied to the radioman's position.
I suspect that the marker Clad 14 ST 6 is the marker for the skin material. Now days we would call it something like 7075-T6.
You mean zinc chromate.
Correct sheet metal for aircraft "skin."
@ correct I meant zinc chromate. Thank you.
Very cool! I didn’t know about this my last trip. Apparently with a scope you can see it from the freeway by Towne Pass on the 190. I will definitely try it out next time I go up there. Would never hike to it that’s legit that you did thi
VERY cool hike, sir! Very cool piece of history. My wife and I live in Pearce, AZ - and exploring the local stuff is unreal. This was the epicenter of the Apache wars. We ride our horses through that legendary time! From Fort Bowie to Cochise's Stronghold, that old history comes ALIVE on horseback. Thanks for yet another amazing vid.
That was cool! Thanks for taking us along for the hike.