Aviation archaeology

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Aviation archaeology, also known as aerospace archaeology, aircraft archaeology, crash hunting, wreck chasing, or wreckology, is an activity practiced by both outdoor recreationists and academics in pursuit of finding, documenting, recovering, and preserving sites important in aviation history. For the most part, these sites are aircraft wrecks and crash sites, but also include structures and facilities related to aviation.

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[edit] Post World War II history

The activity dates to post-World War II Europe when, after the conflict, numerous aircraft wrecks studded the countryside. Many times, memorials to those involved in the crashes were put together by individuals, families, landholders, or communities.

As the activity grew in size and popularity, laws and regulations were created in some areas to counter problems created, such as trespassing and the disturbance of "war graves". In the United Kingdom, regardless of nationality or the date of crash, all military aircraft crash sites are protected in the Protection of Military Remains Act. Under the act, passed into law in 1986 it is a criminal offense for anyone without a license to tamper with, damage, move, remove or unearth any part of a crashed military aircraft [1][2].

In the United States, the activity remains relatively unknown, and has little regulation. However, under the recently-passed 'Sunken Military Craft Act', it is illegal to disturb the wreck sites of U.S. Naval or any submerged military aircraft[3] and, under National Transportation Safety Board(NTSB) part 830, any aircraft whose accident cause is under investigation.[4] The U.S. Air Force has no policies against the hobby, unless human remains remain unrecovered at the site.

[edit] Current day

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B-17 turbocharger, crash debris
B-17 turbocharger, crash debris

Crash sites vary in size and content; some may have fuselages, engines, and thousands of parts and debris. Other sites, like in civilian/commercial crashes, the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB will have almost all of the aircraft and debris removed; which makes aviation archaeology more challenging. Remains of military aircraft crash sites may also be removed by various aircraft restoration groups, particularly if the aircraft was found largely intact. There are different laws, rules, and procedures, depending on the jurisdiction or land ownership that will dictate the removal or non-removal of aircraft remains. Such agencies as US Forest Service, National Park Service, US Air Force, US Navy, US Army, US Marines, city and county governments, and land ownership will all participate in the outcome of accident remains.

In general, most recent-day (since the 1980s) aircraft crashes are removed entirely, leaving very little to indicate the existence of a wreck.

Measure, photograph and log aircraft debris.
Measure, photograph and log aircraft debris.

Also, foreign nations will have their set of laws and protocols.

For example, military crashes in Arizona originate from numerous air bases, past and present. Because of the warm and sunny weather, much of the U.S. Army Air Forces flight training was located in the state, both during and after WWII. Numerous air bases dotted the states - creating conditions for numerous training accidents.[5] Old abandoned US Army Air Corp auxiliary fields and converted fields to city municipal airports provides archaeological sites to be researched and investigated.[6]

Keeping a record of a crash site, such as photographs, maps, journals, logs, and all terrain and weather recordings are essential, i.e. the Glenwood Springs, Colorado, B-17 crash site[7] or the Tells Peak, CA, B-17 crash site [8].

B-17 crash debris.
B-17 crash debris.

The internet is an ideal media for sharing, recording, educating, and promoting aviation archaeology as a hobby, as well as research projects for local and state aviation historical groups. For identifying aircraft type and manufacturer by part numbers[9] and manufacturing inspection stamps[10] can be analysed. From detailed GPS data & maps, to researching accident reports information, numerous resources help create a complete picture of the historic event. Accident reports, such as the official US Air Force Accident Report[11] Form 14 becomes the foundation of archaeology research. From there, newspaper articles, county clerk records, sheriff & coroner reports, and library records all aid an aviation archaeologist in their research.

[edit] Abandoned Missile Silos and Sites

California has missile launch sites abandoned by the US Army.[12] Archaeological research includes these sites throughout the United States. Exploring and hiking around abandoned silos and sites may constitute trespassing as well as being dangerous.[13] Permission from current land owners or caretakers is imperative. Research and formal site investigations adds to the historical record of the Cold War[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ UK Aviation Archaeology and the Law
  2. ^ Text of the 'Protection of Military Remains Act 1986" (UK)
  3. ^ *Text of the 'Sunken Military Craft Act' (US)
  4. ^ NTSB 830 - U.S. Accident Preservation Regulations (US)
  5. ^ Arizona Crash History
  6. ^ Eastern Colorado Abandoned and Converted Airfields
  7. ^ Glenwood Springs, CO, B-17 Crash Site
  8. ^ Tells Peak B-17C Crash Site - Check-Six.com
  9. ^ Part Prefix Numbers by Aircraft Type and Manufacturer List
  10. ^ Unique Manufacturer Inspection Stamp Chart
  11. ^ Sterling City, TX, B-36 Accident Report
  12. ^ US Army Nike Missile Sites
  13. ^ History of Missile Silos
  14. ^ Wikipedia - Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
  • All references accessed 29 November 2007.

[edit] Additional reading

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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