Picture 1: View from the satellite imagery.
Pictures 2-4: Closer view, from nearby photo spheres. The tail section is clearly visible.
Picture 5: Unknown B-36 from 51-13721's squadron.
Picture 6: The memorial, from a nearby photo sphere.
Aircraft Type: Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Registration: 51-13721
Airline: USAF
Coordinates: 48°11'02.52"N 53°39'51.52"W
Clearly visible through satellite imagery and multiple nearby photo spheres.
This B-36 only served with the USAF, specifically with the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing.
On March 8, 1953, 51-13721 was making a regular flight from Lajes Aerodrome to Rapid City AFB. As they were approaching Newfoundland, the weather changed from what they expected. They went north of a low pressure zone that they expected they would hit, and a cloud cover restricted them from using a sextant to see their true position. Soon, the plane was in a completely different location than where they thought it was. To make the situation worse, they began to fly through fog and sleet. 30 minutes after reaching Newfoundland, the B-36 crashed into a mountain. All 23 on board were killed on impact.
The wreckage was too remote to salvage, is now a popular hike. A memorial was erected on a nearby hill. Also, Rapid City Airbase was renamed to Ellsworth AFB in memorial of crewmember Richard Ellsworth.