Thanks for the article, skyeye! This was one of my first postings on what was then Google Globetrotting, back when I'd spend hours in a day scouring rooftops for just such a find.
Interesting that the epicenter of Pakistan's big earthquake 08-05-2005 was just 32.5 km away and happened the same year OBL purportedly moved into his compound.
More on the helo wreckage featured in Skyeye's link. Here's a closer look at it as featured in Aviation Week. Turns out it is a newly developed stealth version of the Blackhawk UH-60.
Great link, Skyeye. The photo of the compound (immediately after the helicopter wreckage against the wall) illustrates just how ironic it is that OBL would locate here. The large script written across the mountainside says "Home of the Pfiffers 2005" — the moniker of the Pakistani Army's Frontier Force Regiment. Evidently, it was scrawled on the mountainside the same year Osama's compound was being constructed beneath it.
Making this even more intriguing, the very next click behind her has a woman (red dress against the curb) showing even more cleavage than the reflection, with no censoring. What gives?
Judging by the high-value of the agents the Russians exchanged for the release of the New York 10, you'd have to believe they had far more to show for their time in the US than has yet been reported.
Here is the complete history of the Howard N173U as chronicled by the Warbird Registry:
5650 • PV-1 Bu34760 (to RAF as FP608)
GR Mk.V (to SAAF as 6433): del. 27.9.43: SOC TT 554 hr 60
N127N Howard Aero Inc, San Antonio TX .59/61
Howard (stripped airframe shipped ex S.Africa 12.59,
Super Ventura conv. to Howard Super Ventura 8.61 at
San Antonio TX, line no. #45)
Howard 500 N90N Natural Gas Pipeline Co, Chicago IL .61/67
(c/n...
Anonymous, your comment seems to address Howard 500s in general; but not the lineage of the specific airframe pictured here. As you will note, the description follows the airframe throughout its entire history and its various owners from its initial construction to its eventual conversion. If you have documentation you would like to share that refutes this particular aircraft's well-documented history, we'd love to see it.
I'll give you that there are no pools of blood or bullet holes in the car's windows, and the people around seem pretty casual about the whole ordeal. But where's the fun in that? Where's the mystery?
If it's a siesta, the guy has chosen to take a nap amid bags of rotting garbage.
Assuming it is a homicide, some more armchair sleuthing:
You can tell by the fresh tire tracks in the loose sand, that the white car was the last car to enter (it's tracks are over all the others and it went in diagonally, so a trailing car would probably overlap the tracks at some point). There is a fresh bike or motorcycle track that goes parallel to the car tracks to the right, but...
Yikes! Makes you feel for the Google drivers who seem to venture into even the most dangerous neighborhoods. There was also this map of a guy with a gun drawn toward the Google Street View car: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/guy-with-a-gun/
The thumbnail shows the unobscured event; however, Google has since blurred out the photo—first by simply blurring the gun, but now blurring out...
I'm afraid this one doesn't meet the spirit of "Note4" of the scavenger hunt. The planes would have to have been assembled (as in built) outside, not been assembled in a group outside.
There are people on a American Football field, but they are not in any recognizable formations or in sufficient numbers to indicate a game is being played. We'll have to withhold the scavenger hunt points on this one.
Those aren't backed-up cars, but construction equipment working on a drawbridge under construction or repair—contrary to the requirements specified in "Note 3" for the scavenger hunt.
Great find! When you discover a map like this, the story behind it usually comes weeks or months later (if at all), when someone who knows the story weighs in. In the mean time, if anyone knows of a news article detailing the events of this particular house, feel free to post it.
Thanks for the insight. There's always that one person in the VGT community who's able to add a personal revelation that solves the mystery to even the most perplexing maps.
Judging by the type of trucks and RVs in the adjacent parking lot, I think you have come across "extras" on a movie set. I'm guessing the RVs are the dressing rooms for the actors. If you're lucky you may find a celebrity or two in the area.
I wonder if it could be related to the recent passing following an illness of Olaina Reed-hall who played the popular Sesame character "Gloria?" http://www.hollywoodmemoir.com/alaina-reed-hall
You are absolutely right. Definitely a different image and perhaps plane than the first imagery. Perhaps it is on static display and was removed for a time for repainting and refurbishing. Also, the scale compared to the surrounding buildings seem to me to be way out of whack. Looks like there is an AA emplacement right next to it. Perhaps it's a decoy.
Thanks for the update. I think you'll find you get more viewership when you include a more info link. What is it that makes this cemetery and church relevant to your audience, other than that it is 15 kms east of Salzburg?
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/05/Pasco/Skydiver_tumbles_to_d.shtml
This article shows a photo of the accident aftermath, with an officer on the scene walking past the orange and black striped chute that is visible in the BEV imagery. The pickup truck in the imagery is also in the photo.
I think the progression of events starts with the west view, where the ambulance and a pickup from the skydiving company are first on the scene;t hen switches to the east view where a firetruck and the first police arrive on the scene, the fire chief's truck can be seen turning off the access road; next the south view, where the fire chief truck is seen leaving; and then finally, the north view, where the ambulance and fire crews have left, leaving the police, now with a gold car (probably the...
Champion3,
It's obvious you are putting much time into the maps you have found. Be sure to make that last step and ensure your coordinates are leading to the thumbnail you have posted. I think what is happening is that after finding the view you are looking for in Birds Eye View, you are not then clicking on the "aerial" or "map" view ( locking in the coordinates) after locating your address, and then switching back to Birds Eye View to cut or copy the new coordinates (see tutorial...
Judging by the shear number of officers on the scene, the chalk circles drawn under the wheels of the bike, and all the numbered chalk-marks retracing the bike's final moments down the road, I don't think the bike's rider met with a "favorable" outcome on this one.
pdunn: Comments
The miniature planes are no longer visibile. They were in the area that has the strange discoloration at the very end of the tarmac.
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/YankeeAirMuseum/2007/Highlights/F86Tom07.jpg
http://journalofrheology.org/resource/1/jorhd2/v48/i3/p551_s1?isAuthorized=no
...
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PuwN25KEOLTekBWe9lVgmw?feat=embedwebsite
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/11/vo.whirlpool.earthquake.nhk?hpt=C2
5650 • PV-1 Bu34760 (to RAF as FP608)
GR Mk.V (to SAAF as 6433): del. 27.9.43: SOC TT 554 hr 60
N127N Howard Aero Inc, San Antonio TX .59/61
Howard (stripped airframe shipped ex S.Africa 12.59,
Super Ventura conv. to Howard Super Ventura 8.61 at
San Antonio TX, line no. #45)
Howard 500 N90N Natural Gas Pipeline Co, Chicago IL .61/67
(c/n...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M67oS0g4pE
Assuming it is a homicide, some more armchair sleuthing:
You can tell by the fresh tire tracks in the loose sand, that the white car was the last car to enter (it's tracks are over all the others and it went in diagonally, so a trailing car would probably overlap the tracks at some point). There is a fresh bike or motorcycle track that goes parallel to the car tracks to the right, but...
You titled this a "Double Homicide" where is the second?
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/guy-with-a-gun/
The thumbnail shows the unobscured event; however, Google has since blurred out the photo—first by simply blurring the gun, but now blurring out...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemaster_III
...
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-03/boot-process-complete-awaiting-command
http://www.hollywoodmemoir.com/alaina-reed-hall
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ford_Cobra_no.66.jpg
This article shows a photo of the accident aftermath, with an officer on the scene walking past the orange and black striped chute that is visible in the BEV imagery. The pickup truck in the imagery is also in the photo.
It's obvious you are putting much time into the maps you have found. Be sure to make that last step and ensure your coordinates are leading to the thumbnail you have posted. I think what is happening is that after finding the view you are looking for in Birds Eye View, you are not then clicking on the "aerial" or "map" view ( locking in the coordinates) after locating your address, and then switching back to Birds Eye View to cut or copy the new coordinates (see tutorial...
It has a pointy little nose, a wake, and has been rumored to playfully pull people at great speeds with wooden planks strapped to their feet.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3051046&id=122146418522&ref=mf#/photo.php?pid=3051097&id=122146418522&ref=mf
http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/2008-2-9-Il76-in-Australia.wmv