John Leo Mesenbourg

Preferred Name: John
Date of Birth: June 9, 1934
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: Minnesota
Headed West Date: May 29, 2015

In August 1962, John Mesenbourg’s F-104 “encountered an accident at Tyndall AFB but could be repaired later on. Pilot, 1st Lt John L. Mesenbourg was ok. Together with aircraft 57-923 (Lt Korcheck) both were supposed to fly back to George AFB after participating in Operation Firefly at Tyndall AFB. There was a fuel stop planned at Cannon AFB, NW Mexico.

Two minutes after takeoff Lt Mesenbourg reported problems with no 1 Generator switching on and off. Soon later this was followed by hydraulic problems with stuck gauge and losing communication (radio) and now a double generator failure. He decided to return back to Tyndall and make an emergency landing.

Since he did not burn extra fuel to lower the landing weight he came in to hard, chute broke, brakes could not decelerate sufficient and aircraft entered the barrier system. It failed catching the barrier and aircraft continued through the overrun onto the dirt for some distance when the nose gear collapsed and farther on the right tip tank and wing struck a concrete post adjacent to the ILS trailer which caused a fire. It came to rest 1203 feet from the end of the overrun. The pilot evacuated the aircraft unhurt. The damage was substantial but could be repaired. The IFS owns a copy of the official USAF accident report. (1)

Source: https://www.i-f-s.nl/accidents-incidents-1962/