More bones found
at ’74 crash site

Skeletal remains on Mauna Kea
might be those of a Navy pilot

---

By Rod Thompson
and Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

HILO >> The Army Central Identification Laboratory at Hickam Air Force Base will attempt to identify bones found recently at a military plane crash site on Mauna Kea, Big Island police announced.

On Dec. 15, 1974, a Navy RF-8 reconnaissance jet crashed into the northeast face of the mountain at the 11,300-foot elevation, facing Laupahoehoe.

The remains of the pilot, 29-year-old Navy Lt. John Wantz, were recovered by the Hawaii County Fire Department and taken to Hilo Hospital, where they were identified, police said. He was the only person on the plane.

Johnie Webb, deputy director of CIL, said the military was able to recover what they had thought was most of Wantz remains in 1974.

"However, the weather then was extremely bad," Webb said, "and they could not spend much time there."

Wantz was flying off the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea when he crashed.

Recently a private helicopter pilot flew over the site and became interested, said police Lt. Derek Pacheco. The pilot hiked to the area where he found additional bones, which he reported to the identification laboratory.

Last Tuesday, Webb's office dispatched five recovery specialists to Mauna Kea where they found human skeletal remains and personal effects.

The laboratory obtained the assistance of the police department in securing the area and conducting the search. The recovery effort lasted through Sunday, Pacheco said.

"We need to confirm and ensure that these are additional remains of the pilot and if so, we will turn them over to the Navy," Webb said.

Webb said he didn't know where Wantz is buried. Recovery experts from CIL said there is still aircraft wreckage in the area.

Laboratory spokesman Sgt. Earl Bushong said he hasn't seen the details on what was found, but in any case, identification is likely to be a slow process.

"It will take some time to have everything exhausted," he said.