Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West

F-4D
4/20/67

McDonnell Douglas F-4D 65-0656

On April 20, 1967 a flight of four F-4D Phantom’s departed  George Air Force Base at 6:45 a.m. for the Leech Lake Tactical Range to simulate attacks on fixed ground targets. The call sign for the flight was Blondie 1,2,3, and 4. At 7:08 a.m. Blondie 3 was seen to begin a dive on a truck. The simulated attack was seen to continue normally until the recovery phase, at which time Blondie 3 rolled twice to the right and crashed halfway up the side of a mountain. Both pilots were killed instantly in this tragic accident.

 In respectful memory: Aircraft Commander, 1st Lt. Douglas B. Rose, and Pilot, 1st Lt. Donald H. Weber who lost their lives in good service to our Nation.

(All photos courtesy Keith Herron)

View of the F-4D 65-0656 crash site in rugged terrain near Kingston Peak in San Bernardino County, CA.	Landing gear leg and tire unburned due to the high speed impact in which the fuel vaporizes resulting in a flash fire only.
Scattered wreckage near main impact.	Turbine blades from one of two General Electric J-79 turbojet engines used on the F-4 Phantom series. Fuselage structure is located to the left of the turbine blades.