8 July 1970 – 1Lt D.P. Egelston’s F-100D #552943 is hit by gunfire while flying over Southeast Asia. He ejects and is rescued by an Army Helo and is uninjured. D.P. was assigned to the 615TFS out of Phan Rang.
Today in History – April 29, 1949 – Prototype of McDonnell XF-85 “Goblin” dropped from crane at Moffett Field.
29 April 1949 – During WWII a need was discovered for a “parasite fighter” – a jet fighter to protect bombers from hostile intercept aircraft. Pilot fatigue from P-41 and P-51 pilots who were protecting Boeing B-17’s, B-24’s, and Boeing B-29’s was a real problem. Aerial refueling hadn’t been perfected and these interceptors couldn’t match