On November 2, 1941 Boeing B-17C #40-2047 crashed while on a flight from Reno, Nevada to Sacramento, California. The B-17 was flying to Sacramento for routine maintenance which was to include changing the high hour number three engine. The Super Fortress took off in questionable conditions that got worst with time. After flying through severe turbulence for an hour in IFR conditions, the pilot made the decision to return to Reno. A short time later both artificial horizons failed and pilot lost control of the aircraft causing it to come apart in mid-air. All of the crew expect the pilot were able to bail out of the doomed bomber. The photo is B-17C S/N 40-2049. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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Driving in the Eldorado National Forest. I have a good idea of where some of the wreckage is located, but not sure how to reach the place where to start the hike from.

It took me two hours to find the area that I was looking for. I first way I tried to go, came upon a locked gate. The second, the road narrowed down to a trail. Found it on the third try. The topo maps that I was using showed roads that weren't there and didn't show the one I needed.

The hike started out on a old road.

A short way past this point, I left the road and follow the GPS to the spot I marked for the tail.

The first sign of wreckage.

Turned out to be the rear section of the crushed fuselage.

Walking around the right stab came into view.

A little bit of the deicing boot remained on the leading edge.

The opening for one of the waist guns can be seen at the upper left. Looks like that's where the fuselage broke.