On Wednesday January 4, 1984 a US Air Force RF-4C Phantom II disintegrated as it crashed into The Smokies at 450 mph. Killed in the crash were pilot, Capt. David F.Greggs 26 of Montgomery, AL and Navigator, Capt. Scott A. Miller 32 of Irving, TX. 19hours after witnesses saw it crash and explode while on it's way back to Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter, South Carolina from a photo reconnaissance mission. An Air Force Security team with a five man crew arrived to camp over night at the crash site. Col. Jerry Daniel Vice Commander of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing At Shaw Air Force Base led the recovery mission. My real wonder and curiosity is what exactly were they taking aerial photography of? On whose orders? Did someone else play a part in this accident? Conspiracy..... Ranger Mike Sharp led a Five member Civil Air Patrol team in the recovery was quoted saying " we literally found the wreckage once we slipped on a piece of metal". Snow had covered the crash site on Inadu Knob near Old Black in The Great Smoky Mountains. Larry Arrendale a officer with FAA in Atlanta, Ga said there was " no indication of trouble", before air controllers lost contact with the jet at 7:12pm Wednesday. 35 Park Rangers, Civil Air Patrolmen, and Air Force Personnel searched on foot and on horse back for over eight hours Thursday before finding the crash site. The Air National Guard contributed a fixed wing airplane and a helicopter to assist in the efforts. The Fighter jet slammed into the mountain only yards from the famed Appalachian Trail between Inadu Knob and Old Black not far from where Snake Den Ridge joins the AT. Eyewitness Estelle Jenkins of Cosby, Tennessee claimed Wednesday she heard a jet that sounded like it was in trouble and moments later she heard it burst into a loud explosion. F4 Phantom II Top Speed: 1,473 mph Length: 63' Wingspan: 38' Engine: General Electric J79 Unit Cost: U.S. 2.4 Million Production: 1958-1981 5,195 units built Snake Den Ridge Low Gap Trail is a 13 mile loop trail considered to be rated difficult. I would say this is one of the toughest hikes I have been on, 5miles to the crash site at just about a total incline the entire way up to the junction at the Appalachian Trail. Best part is 5miles down haha, by that point if you're doing this all in one day, your ankles are ready to give out on the descent down, every step becomes almost a life or death stumble down the mountain side. This area of The Great Smoky Mountains is for the most part some of better secluded spots to get away from the tourists. The trees in this area of the park for the most part were not logged back in the day so this is mostly a old growth forest you are hiking through. Mainly due to how steep this section is in the Park. Once you are there the wreckage is scattered through out the woods, do some exploring to find most of it and make sure you leave it were was found. Leave only footprints.. this is a sacred site and should be treated like that. Rest In Peace Scott and David, Thank you for your service. #f4phantom #sumter #363tacticalwing #usaf #smokies #hikedontwalk #historicarchaeology #mikethehikingguide #cosby #Appalachiantrail #blogwriter
Thanks for reading - Mike
7 Comments
Patrick Liebo
12/5/2020 10:54:36 am
I remember hiking up there in the spring of 84 , im 46 now so i was 10 years old at the time. My brothers and I found pcs of metal hose fittings and such from the wreckage. I had forgotten this until today while i was in the shower at my gatlinburg home i heard a jet fly by at low level. I just told my wife the story and told her id take her up there if I could remember where it was located.
Reply
Steve Michener
1/22/2022 12:28:10 am
both Capt Greggs and Capt Miller were great guy, great co-workers, and great friends. This was a very difficult time for all of us in the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Shaw AFB SC.
Reply
Timothy
4/4/2022 06:13:59 am
FYI, Photo is neither an RF-4C nor a Shaw bird. Looking forward to visiting and praying at site soon. Thanks for posting.
Reply
Chuck
1/6/2023 09:27:37 pm
"My real wonder and curiosity is what exactly were they taking aerial photography of? On whose orders? Did someone else play a part in this accident? Conspiracy....." No conspiracy. Night low-level training mission using radar and the very limited INS of the aircraft. Used IR to take pictures of "targets" which were probably bridges or other structures along a low-level training corridor, I gave Scott a simulator ride that afternoon.
Reply
louis h gavin
5/30/2023 03:16:15 pm
Shaw AFB was also a training unit. The whole idea was to go out and fly low level high speed and take pictures of things. No bombs and bullets just cameras. No conspiracy here.
Reply
2/8/2024 11:21:33 pm
Hello Chuck! Thank you for your response to his unfortunate post. Nearly 40 years ago and I still remember Capt David Greggs and Capt Scott Miller, along with a couple dozen other 16 TRS RF-4C Pilots and WSO's, like it was just yesterday!
Reply
Chuck
2/20/2024 04:33:29 pm
I have the squadron photo from back then. If you need a copy drop me an email. Leave a Reply. |
MiketheHikingGuide
Just an explorer searching for his next adventure Archives
January 2019
Categories |