The Final Flight Finds Phantom Failing

May 17, 2005

We decided that we would have to circle around the closed passes if we wanted to reach our destination at Battle Mountain and view the final aircraft of our journey.The passes would surely still be closed and icy and we didn't want to risk a serious event.  So we went north to the interstate highway (IH 80) and crossed the mountain at Donner Pass.

As we climbed toward the summit, it got colder and colder until we were nearly chilled to the bone.  At 7,000+ feet we were looking down the hillsides at snow covered fields and feeling the biting cold of the freezing air cut through our jackets and chaps.  It was amazing that we were in 90 degree temperatures only a few days and a few hundred miles before.  So varied and expansive is this country of ours that we are constantly in awe. And as we crossed Donner Pass I couldn't help- but try to imagine the Donner Party struggling to survive in a harsh climate and conditions that didn't include modern warm clothing and wide gently sloping highways.

Descending into the lower levels on the east side of the range, we approached Reno and followed our GPS to Bill and Lynn Elander, good friends and former Thunderbird teammates on the F4 team in the early 70's.  Bill and Lynn are a wonderful couple and delightful to visit.  They are warm and welcoming and display true love and friendship.We told a few lies and then tried to out-tell the new ones we had never heard before.  We went to lunch at the club giving Lynn assistance for her broken leg (a bicycle accident) and Bill assistance  for his legendary sense of dry humor that kept us in stitches throughout the entire visit. What wonderful friends and people they are.

We needed to reach Battle Mountain byte 5 PM as we had arrangements to meet a reporter for the Battle Mountain Bugle at that time.  So we departed at 1 PM and motored north and east. We connected with the reporter in Winnimucca where he led us on a Nevada speed chase to the aircraft nearly 50 miles further east.  Once there we were granted access to the aircraft which was standing among grass and gravel along with an F-111, F-86, T-33 ands C-117...all in various states of neglect.   It was sad that this last warrior on my list had not found a place of honor as others had. And it appears that the aircraft will be reclaimed in the future by the Air Force Museum for display elsewhere. It is indeed unfortunate that the people who believe in this display cannot garner enough support from the local community to afford to maintain these aircraft. They love them but realities of life are just that...realities and not dreams.

The reporter, Forrest Newton, interviewed us and was a most gracious host for this final visit to the remaining nine. A most entertaining and knowledgeable man about the local history, he provided many details about the aircraft that we didn't know.

The mission was now complete.  It was time to go home.  I had done what I set out to do.  But before I could do so I had to fulfill one more promise.  I would visit old  and dear friends in Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday.  But we needed rest.  We crashed in Battle Mountain leaving the next leg for tomorrow.

Here's some pictures: