Gila Mountain B-17 Training Mission
Posted by: 
K-Ddid
N 32° 38.158 W 114° 19.811
11S E 750460 N 3614079
Access to the trail is by pickup truck, preferably 4-wheel.
Waymark Code: WM45F
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 11/26/2005
Views: 371
CRASH SITE:
During a night time training mission a B-17 Bomber on a Training Mission crashed into the Gila Mountains several hundred feet below the ridge. The coordinates are approximately in the center of the crash area. Wheels, engine cowling and scattered fuselage bits may be found over a wide area. The location is described as 3 miles south and 16 miles east of Yuma and a short ways south of Telegraph Pass on Interstate 8.
MEMORIAL:
There is a memorial nearby along Interstate 8 at an east bound rest stop that reads as follows:
IN MEMORIUM
On June 28,1944 a B-17 Training Bomber crashed
South of this point
Crew Members
2nd. Lt. William A. Richell, 22, Pilot
2nd. Lt. Sheridan B. Marek, 20, Co-Pilot
2nd. Lt. Angus W. MacArthur, 21, Co-Pilot
Sgt. Manten P. Jones, 23, Crew Chief
Corp. Merle G. Ice, 23, Aerial Engineer
Dedicated by all Yuma Area Veterans July 4, 1990
Memorial is located at:
N 32° 39.954 W 114° 17.034
There is an additional memorial on the ridge above the crash site which is located at N 32° 38.065 W 114° 19.771.
Additional information may be had at the Old Town Yuma visitor center. The crash is listed in "Yuma Day Hikes" by Tom Nunn and is available for a fee.
Web Address for Related Web Sites: [Web Link]
Date of Crash: 06/28/1944
Aircraft Model: B-17
Military or Civilian: Military
Cause of Crash:
Night flying.
Tail Number: Not listed
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