Date: 9/11/01
Time: Unknown
Photographer: Michael Lutzky - Washington Post
DESCRIPTION:
A firefighter from Fort Myer Rescue Engine 161 holding a piece of aircraft debris.
KEY NOTES:
I noticed that this piece has a very distinct rivet pattern. I investigated the 727, 737 100-800, and the 747 rivet patterns.
The only match was on the 757. Now if you look closely at the piece you will see that
it has an obvious smooth cut trimmed by rivets (at the bottom left) which indicated to me it was on the corner of a door or window.
The slight portion of red paint provided a clue. All of the lettering has white trim and this appears not to have the white.
I looked at the forward and aft cargo doors on the right side of the aircraft. This piece matches the upper left corner of either. The red paint lines up to
the red stripe down the side of the aircraft that does not have the white trim. It is also silver which matches the bottom of the aircraft as
opposed to painted like the top.
The problem with any of these photo based
attempts to match pieces is always lens and perspective distortion. You are generally dealing with pieces that are curved or damaged as well.
The rivet lines vary between the front and and rear cargo door area. This is just to show the possibility of a match.
If it is accurate then we have another piece from the right side of the
aircraft strewn in the opposite direction on the Pentagon lawn.
This next composite shows where the original photo of the piece was taken. Then I believe it was added to the pile on the
northwest corner of the heliport tower as the day progressed. This is also where the "c" piece had been moved to when DCFD Truck
10 came in.
