In Search Of: Lockheed F5-E Lightning

It's been just over a year since my last entry of the Lockheed F-5E lightning  that crashed into the side of a hill southwest of Barnsdall on July 2 1945. With the prop blade I received last year, I was able to make contact with the Smithsonian Air and Space Research Group and verify the prop blade as belonging to 2nd Lt. Charles R. Schliefer's Lockheed F-5E, a photo recon aircraft stationed in Coffeyville Kansas. Since this time, I've done more research on the possible location of the crashed aircraft. Through eye witness reports and the Army's crash report and photos from 1945 and talking to others that have been passed the information by those that lived in the area of the reported crash, I proceeded with tracing the air route from it's beginning in Coffeyville to it's proposed destination which was Oklahoma City. Of the four possible routes taken that day, two routes stood out among the others. One, which made a direct pass over Barnsdall and one that made a pass to the northwest. The direct pass coincided with reports from eyewitnesses and passed down information while the northwest pass coincided with the Army report. Taking into account the information on hand I was able to ascertain a possible crash site which reports state are spread over a two acre area on the side of, and near the top of a hill within sight of Barnsdall. Google Earth and local topography maps were a big help in spotting what I think may be the crash site location. I contacted the land owner this past May about doing a search on his property and he agreed to give me access to the area. With it being springtime, I opted to hold off till after the first hard freeze in November to begin my search. I'm not fond of tromping around on the side of a hill covered with trees and brush in the summer. There are too many critters out there that have a poisonous bite or sting. But the time has passed, I've talked again with the land owner and all is set. Hopefully the next story I write on this subject will be one of finding some small piece of aviation history to go along with the large hunk of aluminum I have stashed away as of now.

Lockheed F-5E Photo Recon aircraft