In the Gila Wilderness, just south by southeast of Loco Mountain about 2 1/2 miles is a broad, flat, treeless plain called "Aeroplane Mesa". I saw this on the first Gila Wilderness map I ever looked at in 1978.

The word "aeroplane" to me indicated a Pre-WWII connotation as I think by WWII the word had been surpassed by "airplane".

Then I heard the story. Supposedly Lieutenant/Captain Claire Chennault of the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1927 was flying a "mailplane" and had to make a forced landing on "Aeroplane Mesa", hence the name.

Then I recently heard the second story. To me probably the truth. When Lieutenant or Captain Claire Chennault was stationed with the Air Corps at El Paso he, and a couple of other officer friends, used to fly into this mesa and hunt. Probably deer and turkey because the elk where not in the Gila then. After one of their hunts the young officer named Chennault attempted a take off which ended in a "crack-up". Hence the name "Aeroplane Mesa".

Supposedly some of the "aeroplane" parts can still be found on the mesa.

Today this pickup lies on the southwest corner of the mesa in the alligator junipers. I know its a later model than 1927 but I bet the young officer had a lot of schemes running through his head as to how to get the Army's "toy" out of there before the hammer fell. I bet he got into quite a row with his superiors though.



Here's a pic of Aeroplane Mesa today between the ears of my valiant steed "Little Golden Nugget".

__________________
Have guns...will shoot'em.

That"s interesting. The Flying Tigers guy, of course: Claire Lee Chennault - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is a car to go with your pickup. I also know where their is a pickup. I will get some pics of it and post them in a couple of weeks.
I wonder ow many old cars and trucks their out there like these.



Wingmaster

The pickup is a 40-47 Ford. Do a google search and look at the body lines on the door and cab.

The car is a 37/38 oldsmobile.

Good I.D. on the vehicles. I was about to post the same thing.

I can just see one or more "good-ole-boys" thinking that they could get a pickup to the edge of the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Gila River where this pickup is. And they did, they just couldn't get it back out!!

The terrain between there and the legal road (north 2 1/2 miles) will accomodate a true high clearance vehicle. Until the Feds find out that you have entered a protected Wilderness Area..............

__________________
Have guns...will shoot'em.

Very good ID. What was the give away on the car?
The knowledge of this forum always amazes me.

Wing master

That Olds needs a li'l work....