Phantom Pilot circa 1973
- Thread starter steve
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In 1976 I was stationed in the Azores. It was a waypoint (a.k.a. gas station) between the U.S. and Europe.
Besides my regular job I was on a team in charge of arresting barriers for catching aircraft in an emergency.
We only used it once for a Marine F4 that lost its hydraulics and couldn't stop.
It hit the barrier at speed and came to a quick halt just like that.
The pilot jumped down and walked away like it was just another day at the office. Very cool
I'll never forget that. Highlight of my service
Besides my regular job I was on a team in charge of arresting barriers for catching aircraft in an emergency.
We only used it once for a Marine F4 that lost its hydraulics and couldn't stop.
It hit the barrier at speed and came to a quick halt just like that.
The pilot jumped down and walked away like it was just another day at the office. Very cool
I'll never forget that. Highlight of my service
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In this 1970 photo of an F-4 Phantom during a catapult launch when her nose gear collapsed, forcing the pilot and his Radar Intercept Officer to eject. The canopy can be seen in the upper left hand corner of the photo. The pilot survived; but your comrade lost his life.
That would be a tough letter for the Sqd CO to have to write.
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And on all those sailors who witnessed it.