5 May 1969 – A USAF North American F-100D-70-NA Super Sabre, #56-3214, one of two Super Sabres from the 452nd TFS/81st TFW out of RAF Lakenheath, was on a gunnery mission over Holbeach Range, Cambs., UK. The plane suffered engine failure, forcing pilot Capt. R.E. Riggs to eject. The jet fighter impacted into farmland, missing
9 August 1949 – US Navy pilot Lt. J. L. “Pappy” Fruin of VF-101 loses control of his McDonnell F2H-1 Banshee at 500 mph and 30,000 feet and ejects over Walterboro, South Carolina, becoming the first American Naval aviator to use an ejector seat during an actual in-flight emergency. VF-101 was the first Navy unit […]
Today in History – August 9, 1949 – Navy pilot “Pappy” Fruin makes aviation history. Read More »
8 August 1985 – A USAF General Dynamics F-16A Block 15F Fighting Falcon, 81-0750, of the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, crashed during a training mission in northwest Utah, killing the pilot. The aircraft crashed onto the Utah Test and Training Range killing First Lieutenant S. Brad Peale. The aircraft suffered a controlled flight into terrain
Today in History – August 8, 1985 – Not a good day in OK or UT. Read More »
7 August 1964 – Photo reconnaissance begins over Vietnam. Veteran Kenneth V. Jack, in his book Eyes of the Fleet over Vietnam pieces together the chronological history of photo recon in the Vietnam War between 1964 and 1972. He writes “Clandestine missions conducted over Laos began [in] 1964″ becoming a congressionally authorized war after the