Today in History – April 18, 1955 – Herman “Fish” Salmon ejects from 2nd prototype of Second prototype Lockheed XF-104A Starfighter #53-7787

18 April 1955 – The Second prototype Lockheed XF-104A Starfighter, 53-7787, c/n 083-0002, is lost when the airframe sheds the bottom ejection seat hatch fairing during 20 mm gun firing causing explosive decompression. Test pilot Herman R. “Fish” Salmon ejected as aircraft broke up, injured landing in rough country. [Joe Baugher cites the date of

Today in History – January 20, 1969 – Capt F.E. Davis and 1Lt Jim Thames eject out of 2 separate F-100D’s

By MB Barrett

20 January 1969 – F.E. Davis was with the 352nd TFS37 TFW out of Phan Rang. Flying F-100D #563113 as Yellow Jacket 6, he was on a mission over SVN when his aircraft was hit by gunfire. He ejected and was recovered by a USN ship and suffered minor injuries.

Also serving at Phan Rang with the 615TFS/37 TFW was 1Lt Jim Thames. Jim was flying F-100D #553704 as Bobcat 1 on a mission to drop napalm on a VC truck storage area over SVN when his aircraft was hit on the wing by gunfire. Jim ejected and was recovered by a USAF helo. He also suffered minor injuries.