# I need help tracking a US military crash **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2022, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991 "2022-02-06T03:59:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991/1 "2022-02-06T03:59:02Z")
Dear Friends… In 1979 I was a member of a Sierra Club Service trip. In July or August of 1979, 20 or so us went to the back country of Yosemite to take apart a One man military jet that had crashed some years beore. My memory recalls the guide told us it was from the late 60’s, but perhaps it was early 1970’s. My limeted google search brought up nothing relevent. Can one of you brilliant teeming millions tell me where I might get more info about the type of plane and circumstances of the crash? I thank you for your time. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991/2 "2022-02-06T04:23:37Z")
There was the [1977 crash of a Lockheed Ventura that was being used to smuggle drugs](https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/video-the-legendary-yosemite-valley-drug-plane-crash.html). Unfortunately, the Ventura was a World War 2-era piston-engine plane that had a crew of two, but at least it had a military background. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991/3 "2022-02-06T16:21:22Z")
Start from a different reference point. You were there. describe the plane. Was a low,mid,or high wing plane. Was the wing short and thin? was it swept back? Was the tail elevator in line with the fuselage or was it on top? Was the engine in the fuselage or hanging from the wings. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991/4 "2022-02-06T22:54:43Z")
Check out this map. [https://planecrashmap.com/map/ca/?initial=N25980](https://planecrashmap.com/map/ca/?initial=N25980) Perhaps the A4 near Tower Peak or the T2 near Twin Peaks? ETA - That map only shows fatal crashes, so your crash may not be on it. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991/5 "2022-02-07T14:28:47Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > There was the [1977 crash of a Lockheed Ventura that was being used to smuggle drugs](https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/video-the-legendary-yosemite-valley-drug-plane-crash.html). Unfortunately, the Ventura was a World War 2-era piston-engine plane that had a crew of two, but at least it had a military background. It was actually a Howard 500, a design dating from 1959. Wiki notes: > [@](#): > > While the Howard 500 bore a strong resemblance to [Lockheed Lodestar & Ventura], it was a substantially new design, and all 500s had completely new fuselages. The only major components taken directly from its Lockheed forebears were the outer wing panels (from surplus Venturas) and undercarriage (from PV-2 Harpoons). ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2022, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991/6 "2022-02-14T10:32:19Z")
Sierra Club archives are kept at The Bancroft Library, University of Calfornia at Berkeley, CA… Not scanned so not available online. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2022, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-tracking-a-us-military-crash/958991/7 "2022-02-14T10:59:46Z")
Many libraries have the Sierra Club Bulletin.