It was at this point that I decided to take the extreme left had position as we proceed north.  I had moved about fifty yards to the west of the middle man, and was deeply engrossed in the search, so I failed to notice when  he disappeared from view in the thick trees and brush.  My eyes were firmly on the ground, searching  for the smallest piece of wreckage as I went up and down one small tree and brush-covered hill after another.

 I had not consulted the GPS or compass for some time, because   I thought I knew where I was going, and in what direction I was traveling.  After about thirty minutes a call came over the radio from Jim.  He had found a large piece of wreckage and wanted us both to come over and have a look.

 I used the radio to answer his call and said that I would be there in a few minutes. I then heard Mike make the same statement over his radio.   Thinking he was just off to the east about one hundred yards, I turned to what I thought was about ninety degrees to the right and started in his direction.

 After about ten or fifteen minutes, I still had not found them, so I called once again on the radio and asked Jim to give me his position with reference to the terrain around him.  He answered, and said he was on a small knoll just before a dry creek bed.

 I had not crossed any dry creek beds, and saw none around me.  So I asked him to shout without using the radio.   That way I could "Home" in on the sound and not worry about the terrain.

 He said he would, but I heard nothing from him.  It was then that I realize I was a lot farther from him that I figured.  He blew his whistle, but I still did not hear him.  I went to the top of the next little hill, and when he still did not appear, I decided it was time to check my location with the GPS.

 What I saw on the tracking program amazed me.  I had started out going pretty much north as planned, but soon the line started to swing to the north west.  With every step I was moving farther and farther away from the group.  I used the "Measure Distance" feature and determined that I was almost three tenths of a mile west of our southerly track.  I was amazed, but not worried.  I  now had my bearings,  knew where I was, and in which direction I had to go.

 After moving in that direction for about ten minutes, I again asked Jim to shout without using the radio.  This time I heard the faint sound of another human voice.  When the GPS told me I was crossing our south bound track, I still had not found either of them.  So I cupped my hands over my ears and told them to shout again.  I then determined they were north of me some distance, so I proceeded in that direction.

 I had not gone very far when I crested a small hill, and there were Jim and Mike standing next to a ten-foot section of fuselage ribbing, wondering what took me so long.

 At this point we were about two hundred yards south of where I found the earphones.  After "Marking" the location, we decided to take a break and rest for a while.  I was not at all surprised so little wreckage had been found thus far because of the new Hwy. (89) which was only about one hundred yards to the east.  Surely as the workers graded the new roadbed they found pieces of wreckage and hauled it away.  Perhaps not even knowing what it was.

 Jim decided he wanted to have another  look at the light fixture we  found earlier, and asked me if I had a waypoint for it.  I said I had.   So I entered it into the "GOTO" program and off we went following the little pointer to the north.

 It was not too difficult to find the small piece, because the GPS told me when we were within fifteen feet of the spot.  After Jim retrieved the light, we decided to call it a day.   I set the "Return to the Car and lunch " waypoint into the "GOTO" program, and we heading for the car by a direct route.

 We arrived at the car tired, hot, dirty and hungry, but we found the C-47 and paid tribute to the twenty-six men who lost their lives.  When I got home that day I transferred all the waypoints and tracks into my computer, so if we ever go back up there I'll know right where each item was located and exactly what area we had searched.

 At home, after a hot shower and a meal, I had a chance to reflect back on the day's activities.   I wondered . . . what would have happened if I had not been prepared, and had not had the GPS with me?   I see now just how easy it is to get lost in unfamiliar territory.  Walking down a trail you think you can memorize the route.   But stop and turn around.  Everything looks totally different from the other direction.

 So if you're going wreck chasing, go prepared.  And the best way to keep track of your location or mark your finds, is with the marvelous wonders and features  available in the hand held GPS.