F-86D 52-3623 crash 15 miles northeast of Tucson AZ on July 8 1957

F-86D 52-3623 crash 15 miles northeast of Tucson AZ on July 8, 1957

Two F-86s from Davis-Monthan’s 15th Fighter Interceptor Squadron collided over the Catalina Mountains. Both pilots successfully bailed out. F-86D, 52-3623, crashed into the Catalina Mountains, Tucson, AZ. Much of this debris is located off the Butterfly Trail.

The other F-86 righted itself after the pilot bailed out and flew east until it ran out of fuel and crashed in New Mexico.

F-86D-41NA, s/n 52-3623, 1st Lt. Gerrit H. Van Vliet (Gary Van Vliet)

F-86D-41NA, s/n 52-3605, 1st Lt. Joseph James Onate

Landing gear still attached to the wing.

Interesting switch with a cover.

Two photos of a wing taken approximately 20 years apart. In the left photo, you can still make out a portion of the letters USAF. In the photo on the right, you can still make out "US," but it's faded over time.

Arizona waterfall off the Butterfly Trail and close to the crash site.

F-86s U.S. Air Force photo

Fuselage with part of the insignia still visible. Unfortunately, somebody removed this part.

Fabric at the crash site.

Butterfly trail before the 2020 Big Horn fire. On the ridge, you can see the towers on Mt. Bigelow.