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F-8 in the rocks...Anyone have any background on this?
- Thread starter Citation3
- Start date
According to Crusader Mishaps:
F8U-2 BuNo 148709 VF-132 Pilot Lt R. Loomis. Leeward Point Field Guantanamo Bay Cuba "In the Rocks" US Navy Photo courtesy Bruce Nason
According to F-8 Crusader 1956-1964:
Date: 25th April 1962
Aircraft: Vought F8U-2 Crusader
Unit: VF-132
Serial: 148709/201
Based: Leeward Point Field Guantanamo Bay Cuba
Pilot: Lt R. Loomis
F8U-2 BuNo 148709 VF-132 Pilot Lt R. Loomis. Leeward Point Field Guantanamo Bay Cuba "In the Rocks" US Navy Photo courtesy Bruce Nason
According to F-8 Crusader 1956-1964:
Date: 25th April 1962
Aircraft: Vought F8U-2 Crusader
Unit: VF-132
Serial: 148709/201
Based: Leeward Point Field Guantanamo Bay Cuba
Pilot: Lt R. Loomis
Dad told me a story about a Crusader squadron standing alert duty in the 1976-77 timeframe at NAS Boca Chica...... These guys (x 2 Crusaders, mind you) were so gung ho and wanted to show up the Tomcat guys that they forgot to raise the variable incidence wing, and hence, wound up on the coral reef at the end of the runway. Both pilots punched out and were ok. The jets...not so much.
Here's a story circa 1968 about a young LTJG taking off in his F-8 from Miramar with the wings folded.
-ea6bflyr
-ea6bflyr
Here's a story circa 1968 about a young LTJG taking off in his F-8 from Miramar with the wings folded.
-ea6bflyr
I've read that story before, still awesome. Adm. Gillcrist was quite the leader.
I don't believe he was the only one, and some with less fortunate results. I think I remember an F-4 doing the same wing-folded TO, hurrying to get into a night bounce pattern. (no, not me)Here's a story circa 1968 about a young LTJG taking off in his F-8 from Miramar with the wings folded.
-ea6bflyr
NAS Miramar in about 1971 suddenly initiated "final checkers" stationed at the hold short line. Sure they were looking for open panels, leaks, pins, etc. But their real mission was to overcome and prevent all the earlier, pilot stupidity.... like trying to take off with wings folded!
Cron
Yankee Uniform Tango
Here's a story circa 1968 about a young LTJG taking off in his F-8 from Miramar with the wings folded.
-ea6bflyr
Good story. I remember it being discussed a few years back.
Didn't someone in Lemoore do this several years back. I remember it being a topic of discussion while I was on middie cruise there....
About 1983, the only F-8s left in inventory were photo birds in a NAVAIRRES squadron at Andrews. A LT on a XC was making a fuel stop at NAS Dallas & apparently decided to show the locals what a Sierra Hotel VFR break looks like: after pulling hard on the stick at about 400kts, the a/c went into a high-speed stall & ended up (very fortunately) in an unused wing of the BOQ. I think he got out OK, but that stuff really screws up an otherwise great weekend.
Note: Thanks to A4s below for correcting my hearsay story. I thought it occurred after my SRU days - actually it occurred before. Apologies for bad gouge.
Note: Thanks to A4s below for correcting my hearsay story. I thought it occurred after my SRU days - actually it occurred before. Apologies for bad gouge.
ACTUALLY ... it was late '77/ 1st of '78 ... and I was there -- going through AA's F/E school across town and staying in the NAS DALLAS 'Q' ... I had to stay in the annex across the street from the main building as a result of the crash and subsequent loss of rooms ...
The 'story' goes: one of the Weekend Warriors was flip-floppin' down the hall w/ a towel around his waist either going to/coming from the communal head when the 'Sader came crunching through the overhead & the hallway -- basically right in front of him -- the crash was in the last 'Q' wing nearest the entrance to the bar (that's how I know
) and mess ... rumor has it that the 'Weekend guy' went running down the hallway after the crash SANS GO-AHEADS (flip flops) AND TOWEL ... There was no crash & burn - think there was a fuel problem and he ran out on the downwind leg -- not certain @ that, but that was the explanation for no burn given at the time -- and that's fortunate as the entire splinterville-era BOQ would have gone up) ... It left a rather small hole in the ground and cut the wing of the 'Q' like it had been made of butter. They closed the rest of the wing off 'cause it was too freakin' cold at that time of winter and ... where WERE you gonna' go wee-wee, anyway.
However, we did find an 'alternative' access to the BOQ bar ...
Except the pilot realized that his wings were folded prior to VR and executed a High Speed abort causing LOTS of damage to the A/C.
IIRC, the plane flew to the boat stiff leg after multiple repairs and then was craned off at the end of cruise.
-ea6bflyr