Sobering Encounter
Nearby China Lake is host to all sorts of aircraft and training exercises. Many times I'll hear the thunder of jets and turn on my camera just in case they pop over the ridge that I am on. It is understandable that mistakes are made while training at speeds that whould be dangerous enough without flying over the rugged terrain of the Inyos and Death Valley.
On the fateful day of June 3rd, 1982, Navy Lieutenant Richard R. Decker of VA-195 (Lemoore, CA) lost his life when trying to clear a rugged canyon above the Saline Valley. He was flying a single engined A-7E Corsair II. The jet's Naval Bureau Number (BuNo) was 158010.
Alan and I did not know that this aircraft was an A-7 nor that the pilot had died.
This is another jet from the same squadron with notes to compare to wreckage photos.
The A-7 was manufactured by LTV (Ling-Temco-Vought) where Vought was originally Chance-Vought Aircraft.
Fuel Probe inlet area is hinged to allow it to be deployed for refueling.
Two of the three digit aircraft number, digits "2" and "1" ?? I highlighted the photo of the faded numbers with the thin red stripes
Marker Light made by Chance Vought Aircraft
Part of red-striped triangle noting the air intake danger
part of the word "DANGER" that was stenciled within the triangle area. Please note that I highlighted the faded letters with a light red line
as in this similar example
Microwave waveguide from the nose radar system. It may have been part of the receiver subsystem.
Alan discovered many pieces of the cockpit frame and plexiglass pieces. We quickly realized that the pilot must have still been in the cockpit. Definitely caused us to pause and remember that it was Memorial Day weekend.