Immediately after the the crash, newspapers suggested that the Army planned on hauling in fuel oil to burn the wreck beyond recognition. Army records list the wreck as "a complete loss" and that it was "surveyed" at Rapid City (ND) AAB. In my research, I have come to believe "surveyed" means that the wreck was taken to Rapid City AAB for investigation, etc. This was probably not the case, and there is no evidence to support the burning theory either. The following is an interoffice park document from 1955, it would seem to indicate that much of the wreck remained in place until at least that time, read on:
Names have been blacked out by me. Also note the red underlined sentence. The salvage company was not granted rights and anything remaining of the wreck was to be left in place. The salvagers would go into the wrecksite during the day, strip off pieces and haul them through the woods to a place approximately 1000 yards from the main road through the park, after dark they would bring in a truck and haul out the pieces. I call this area the "staging area," and you can still see larger pieces of aluminum skin there today. Many people mistake this for the crash site.
Today the wreck is considered an historic artifact and is protected by the state. It is ILLEGAL to remove anything from a State Park. If you visit this site, DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING!!!! Take only pictures, leave only footprints
