Air Force: 1 pilot dies, another survives after F15Cs collide

[gateley]

Source: cnn.com


(CNN) -- An Air Force fighter pilot died Wednesday after two F-15C jets collided during a training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico, according to Air Force officials.

The planes were from the 33rd Fighter Wing, a combat-flying unit out of Eglin Air Force Base, near Pensacola, Florida.

A spokesman for the wing said the pilot died after having been rescued by a fishing boat and transported to the hospital at the base. The pilot of the other jet was also rescued and was listed in good condition, he said.

The crash happened at about 3 p.m. ET, about 50 miles south of Tyndall Air Force Base which is in Panama City, Florida. A statement from the 33rd said the pilots were rescued at about 6 p.m. ET.

"The 33rd FW Nomads and Team Eglin have suffered a great loss today and my heart goes out to the family and friends of our former airman," said wing commander Col. Todd Harmer in a written statement.

snip

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/20/jetcrash/index.html

[jody]

1. Fighter pilots have the right stuff. Army's are needed to take and hold ground but in modern warfare

an army cannot succeed without air superiority.

:toast: to a departed fighter pilot, one of the unnamed heroes that preserve freedom so people like DUers can argue over so many divisive issues.

[Catch22Dem]

2. The 33rd is a good group of cats.

:toast: to a downed airman.

[Big_Mike]

3. Thanks all who are serving, those who have served,

and most importantly, those who now serve forever.

ABSENT COMRADES!

[jody]

5. Apple Valley! I hope that's outside of Victorville. I have wonderful memories of that area before it

started to grow and smog came up over the mountains.

:hi:

[DemoTex]

4. I'm shaking too bad to respond.

RIP fighter pilot. I thought both were safe and sound.

Just like Viet Nam. BoZo 11 and BoZo 12 are down. Both are safe aboard BoZo 13. Then you find out that BoZo 13 was blown out of the sky by NVA 37 mm.

[trof]

6. 2 of my wingmen had a mid air.

I was element lead (#3) in a four ship of F-84s.
It's a somewhat complicated story, but during a really fucked up approach to a tanker, #4, on my right wing, got canopy-to-canopy with #2, on lead's left wing.

It shattered both canopies but both aircraft and pilots made it safely to landing.

I wonder if these two guys were in formation?
Mid air would be less violent than head on or similar.

[FalconsRule]

7. Here's a Toast... N/T