Had this resurface from my subconscious the other day…probably the most obscure T.V. memory I have floating through my head. Back in the '70s I saw either a T.V. movie or show that featured an actor with grey or white hair that I believe may have been PETER GRAVES (or looked like him). He and a younger actor and actress (can't remember much about them, but they were about mid-20s I think) were traveling somewhere overseas to locate the wreckage of a WW 2-era bomber. They were in a helicopter and were looking out over terrain that had rolling hills and lots of oak trees (kind of what you see in a lot of movies filmed on location in California). They finally spotted the plane and landed, getting out and checking over the wreckage. But the pilot had a combat flashback, panicked, and took off without them. After that they came upon one of the crash survivors who was pretty old by this time and pretty much out of his mind. They tried to persuade him to return with them, but he wouldn't, preferring to stay with the plane and his fellow crew members (who were all dead and buried). I can't remember the ending, but I'm fairly sure he stayed behind when the other three were eventually picked up.
This sounds a lot like the film "Soul Survivor", an old ABC Movie of the Week. It starred Richard Basehart, William Shatner and Vince Edwards. A very nice ghost story based on the real event of the wreck of the "Lady Be Good" in WWII. I was able to see it again, I think on You Tube. Nicely done, no real effects like we see today as far as the ghosts go but a solid story none the less.
Great suggestion Jim F. !!
I think you may have found it. I'm going to have to check SOUL SURVIVOR out- it looks great.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sole_Survivor_(1970_film)
Was "Soul Survivor" set totally in a desert?