New Hampshire has a reputation for peaceful removed from the stresses of modern society – and we tend to assume that means war. While it’s been a very long time since battles were fought on Granite State soil, it wasn’t so very long ago in the scheme of things that a fighter plane crashed right in North Woodstock. The remains of this tragic accident can still be found in the New Hampshire woods, and a hike to see them is both fascinating and sobering.

As hard as it is to imagine, during WWII patrols looking for German U-Boats routinely flew over the New Hampshire coast. On January 14, 1942, one of these B-18 fighter jets was tragically caught in a blizzard that pushed it far off course over the White Mountains. The plane finally crashed in Woodstock. Luckily, the fiery blast drew the attention of area residents, who were able to rescue four of the six crew members. Two tragically died.
AllTrails/Brian McNamara
To pay your respects at the crash site, you'll take on a fairly significant hike – 5 miles round trip. The first part of the trail is mostly through fields, and quite easy.
AllTrails/Mark Robbins
After crossing a brook, the trail gets significantly steeper – it's tough for the last bit before the crash site, but it's worth pushing through for this sight.
AllTrails/Mark Robbins
When you reach the crash site, you'll find a couple of plaques honoring the B-18's crew members. Be sure to stop and pay your respects.
AllTrails/Paul Auretto

Related Stories

This Short Hike In New Hampshire Leads To The Dreamiest Swimming Spot

This Short Hike In New Hampshire Leads To The Dreamiest Swimming Spot

 This Delicious Blueberry Hike In New Hampshire Will Wind Down Your Summer In All The Right Ways

This Delicious Blueberry Hike In New Hampshire Will Wind Down Your Summer In All The Right Ways

 Embrace The Start of Autumn With These 7 New Hampshire Hikes

Embrace The Start of Autumn With These 7 New Hampshire Hikes
Pieces of the plane are scattered over a fairly wide swath of area. First, you'll come across the engines.
AllTrails/Brian McNamara
Get up close and look – it's amazing to see just how simple they were considering the power and importance of those planes.
AllTrails/Brian McNamara
You'll also see the plane's mangled wings, no doubt blown a ways from where the plane crashed.
AllTrails/Brian McNamara
It's a sobering reminder of the losses of WWII and of all the brave New Hampshirites who have served the Granite State and the United States over the years.
AllTrails/Brian McNamara

You can find the trail to the B-18 wreckage in North Woodstock. Learn more about the trail and get directions from AllTrails.

Looking for more Granite State history? Check out these six great museums.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore New Hampshire