Despite crash, most F-15s at Kadena still cleared for flight

[unhappycamper]

Despite crash, most F-15s at Kadena still cleared for flight
By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, February 23, 2008

Most F-15 fighter jets at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa were still cleared for flying Thursday, despite the crash of two F-15C planes in midair Wednesday, near Florida, according to base officials.

The fighter jets assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Base, Fla., are believed to have collided while on a training mission over the Gulf of Mexico in clear weather.

Both pilots were rescued, but one later died.

As of Thursday, 17 of the 18th Wing’s 56 F-15 Eagles remained grounded at Kadena, part of a stand-down after the Nov. 2 crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C.

The jets assigned to the 18th Wing are F-15C and F-15D models.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52709