In May 2003 the X-Hunters embarked on one of their most unusual expeditions, an archeological dig amongst the stately mansions of Beverly Hills.

VIEW DOWN THE ALLEY BETWEEN N.LINDEN & N.WHITTIER DRIVE. THE XF-11 PASSED LEFT TO RIGHT, SMASHING THROUGH A ROW OF TREES WHERE THE BRICK FENCE NOW STANDS. ARROWS SHOW THE TELEPHONE POLE STRUCK AND SHEARED IN HALF BY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE XF-11'S FUSELAGE.

First they identified the XF-11 accident site. Tony Moore found several photos in various books. Pete Merlin studied newspaper articles from 1946. With a few friends they then headed for the Hills, Beverly that is.

Several homeowners graciously consented to allow their yards be probed with metal detectors and limited excavation. Unfortunately, no trace of the aircraft was found.

The most badly damaged home has been completely rebuilt and the yard (and adjacent property) has had extensive landscape work in the years since the accident. The final resting place of the XF-11 appears to have been built over. Doubtless, some small debris remains buried beneath one of these beautiful Beverly Hills homes or gardens, but finding it would be a destructive process.

Pausing in their suburban archeological dig, the X-Hunters pondered the incident that brought them here. In the warm spring breeze they tried to imagine how Howard Hughes managed to stop his thundering behemoth in the space of two homes and live to tell the tale.

THE XF-11's FIRST IMPACTS OCCURED AT 803 N.LINDEN DRIVE AND ARE INDICATED BY THE YELLOW ARROWS ABOVE. (1) FIRST IS THE RIGHT ENGINE AND LANDING GEAR THAT TEAR INTO THE ROOFS PEAK AND THEN OUT THROUGH THE SIDE WALL OF THE HOUSE. (2) THIS IS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE LEFT LANDING GEAR THAT ALSO RIPS STRAIGHT THROUGH THE ROOFS PEAK.

THE PHOTO ABOVE SHOWS THE AREA AS IT LOOKS TODAY WHERE MOST OF THE XF-11's WRECKAGE CAME TO REST. THE HOME ON THE RIGHT, AT 808 N.WHITTIER BURNED ALMOST COMPLETELY AND WAS REBUILT. THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR AT 810 N.WHITTIER WHICH SUFFERED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE IN THE ACCIDENT WAS RAZED YEARS LATER AND A NEW HOME BUILT PARTIALLY OVER THE CRASH SITE.ONE OF THE XF-11's MANGLED ENGINES SHOWN IN THE PHOTO AT RIGHT ENDED UP APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE CAR NOW SITS.