Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Borneo orangutan
Malaysia • 12 days, 11 nights
Wild Borneo: Secrets of an Ancient Rainforest
from
Pastel de nata
Portugal • 8 days, 7 nights
Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Entrance to the munitions area of the lower part of the bunker
Simserhof
Carlos Calderón Yruegas calls the villa his personal playground.
Villa Tabaiba
Apples and pears, Spitalfields Market.
Brick Lane Roundels
Billy Wynt sits atop a hill outside Llantrisant in Wales.
Billy Wynt
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
 Fenway Park at night
How Was Your First Trip With Your Significant Other?
1 day ago
Ivan the Terra Bus
The Bus, the Myth, the Legend: Ivan the Terra Bus
2 days ago
Pigeons were included in a series of 1891 illustrations entitled “Household Pets.”
What Makes a Pest a Pest?
3 days ago
Burros Alfa and Beto, seen here with Luis Soriano in 2008, have been helping the teacher deliver books for more than 20 years.
How One Man and His ‘Biblioburro’ Spreads Literacy in Rural Colombia
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Bedford Sharp Top Crash Site
AO Edited

Sharp Top Crash Site

A glimpse into the sacrifices of military members during World War II.

Bedford, Virginia

Added By
Traveling Maven
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Remnants.   Traveling Maven / Atlas Obscura User
Remnants.   Traveling Maven / Atlas Obscura User
Memorial plaque at the site.   Traveling Maven / Atlas Obscura User
The crash site is near the summit of Sharp Top   apbreuhan / Atlas Obscura User
  apbreuhan / Atlas Obscura User
The crash site.   LauraAndFauna / Atlas Obscura User
  DrBenway / Atlas Obscura User
  LauraAndFauna / Atlas Obscura User
Engine.   Traveling Maven / Atlas Obscura User
Sharp Top Mountain, as seen from near the Peaks of Otter Lodge.   LauraAndFauna / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

An Army Air Force B-25D flying a nighttime navigation training mission was supposed to be a routine exercise, however, it ended in tragedy. On February 2, 1943, the plane crashed at 3,100 feet on the side of Sharp Top Mountain in southwest Virginia.

The forest is slowly reclaiming the wreckage but still visible is a large portion of one wing, a large radial engine, and some unidentified pieces wrapped around trees. There were five crewmen aboard this tragic flight, whose names are now listed on a memorial at the site.

Related Tags

Crash Site Airplanes History Memorials

Know Before You Go

The location is hidden to prevent vandalism but asking a local or exploring on your own will lead you to the site. It’s a steep climb to and from the site on an unimproved trail. Be careful, as snakes and other insects are plentiful. 

If you go please remember that this is a memorial site. Treat this entire area as you would any other place of honor. Leave no trace of garbage and take nothing away from the site.

Community Contributors

Added By

Traveling Maven

Edited By

LauraAndFauna, DrBenway, apbreuhan

  • LauraAndFauna
  • DrBenway
  • apbreuhan

Published

August 30, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.roanoke8thairforce.com/sharptopcrash
  • http://rightsideva.blogspot.com/2008/07/sharp-top-mountain-b-25-bomber.html
Sharp Top Crash Site
Bedford, Virginia, 24523
United States
37.446804, -79.602536

Nearby Places

National D-Day Memorial

Bedford, Virginia

miles away

The Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge, Virginia

miles away

Hidden J.R.R. Tolkien Quote

Natural Bridge, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bedford

Bedford

Virginia

Places 2

Nearby Places

National D-Day Memorial

Bedford, Virginia

miles away

The Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge, Virginia

miles away

Hidden J.R.R. Tolkien Quote

Natural Bridge, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Bedford

Bedford

Virginia

Places 2

Related Places

  • B-29 ‘Over Exposed’ Crash Site

    Glossop, England

    B-29 'Over Exposed' Crash Site

    The wreck of a B-29 Superfortress now stands as a memorial left in the moors.

  • Memorial, across from the airport

    Utqiagvik, Alaska

    Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial

    Commemorating the lives of a renowned humorist and a famed aviator who died in a plane crash in northern Alaska.

  • Tributes to Paul and Shiela Wellstone

    Eveleth, Minnesota

    Paul Wellstone Memorial

    A memorial to the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, who died at this location, along with seven others, in a plane crash in 2002.

  • Kovach, Alberta

    Memorial Lakes

    Three pristine alpine lakes named in memorial of an accident that resulted in three different plane crashes.

  • Memorial

    Kowen, Australia

    1940 Canberra Air Disaster Memorial

    This memorial marks the site of not only of a tragic wreck, but an event that led to the downfall of a wartime government.

  • Kurana Aeroplane Crash Memorial

    Mount Macedon, Australia

    Kurana Aeroplane Crash Memorial

    A monument commemorating the lives lost when a plane crashed into Mount Macedon in 1948.

  • WWII Royal Air Force Crash Sites

    Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland

    WWII Royal Air Force Crash Sites

    This memorial site offers scenic views and a peaceful place for reflection.

  • Ballum, Netherlands

    Dixie Flyer Crash

    Found in the waddenzee, this propeller has been put on public display as a reminder of the Second World War.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.