THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AND I

6th January 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	149184 NM-110	VF-191, Ticonderoga	AAA Vietnam	LCDR Richard Dean Mullen ejected POW		Martin-Baker
28th January 1967	USMC	Vought F-8C Crusader	146971	VMF-334	x	x	x	x
11th February 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	149192 NF-	VF-51 USS HANCOCK CVA-19	Ramp strike during night landing -area unknown	LTJG Tom F. Carrier ejected [Lt(Jg) Carrier was killed on 8th January 1968]		Martin-Baker Mk.5
	This accident occured in the Gulf of Tonkin, USS Hancock, VF-51, Screaming Eagles, Air Wing 5. Tom Carrier Launched at night from condition one watch status. Upon return he went low in close and took the landing gear off the Crusader. He remained in the pattern, NORAD, making several passes and receiving wave offs. An onboard high power lamp was used to try and determine damage while recovering remaining airborne aircraft before rigging barricade. On his third or forth pass the lamp was pointed down in the water and Tom decided it was a msg. to eject and he did, almost abeam the ship. Picked up with no injuries. Tom Carrier was later killed in an F-8 ejection while ferrying from San Diego to Litchfield Park, late 1967 or early 1968. Wayne Skaggs (Ens. at the time) VF-51 Screaming Eagles Air Wing 5, USS Hancock CVA-19 in email 11th February 2012
24th February 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150659	VF-194 USS Ticonderoga CVA 14	Crashed Naha Naval Air Facility, Okinawa, Japan	LT Frank H. Harrington Ejected killed outside envelope. Fire on takeoff. [ejected on 11th June 1963]		Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	Frank Harrington ejected prior to the Naha accident. He was flying out of Miramar and forgot to turn on the transfer switch. As a result the aircraft ran out of fuel and flamed out. With only the RAT he was unable to open the transfer switch. Ralph James [see 11th June 1963]
FEEDBACK	". . Here’s an update to LT Frank Harrington’s F8 Crusader listing. After refueling at Naha, Frank was flying to Atsugi to repair his damaged F8 when it flamed out and burst into a fireball on takeoff roll. A Navy helo at Naha flew over the wreck to try to extinguish the fire and to save Frank. I was asked to document switch and lever positions after the accident. Frank undoubtedly would have been a Navy lieutenant by 1967. Nice site. Your info will live on. Regards, Pete Michael in email 5th February 2011
FEEDBACK	Here is an added note: My information is that the aircraft had been involved in a head on midair collision with a KC-135. Both aircraft survived. The belly of the F-8 had been torn open but it recovered on the carrier. The F-8 was patched up with speed tape and flown to the Phillipines for repair. UNrepairable there, it was given another UP to be flown to Atsugi for repair. I was to accompany that flight with another F-8 from VF-51, USS Hancock at that time. Ready to leave the Phillipines, I had no knowledge of the other F-8's history except that it was not ready to go, soooooooooooo, I launched alone for Japan. Hind sight 20/20, not really smart. However, had I waited another day it is likely that I would have been on Harrington's wing, section takeoff at Naha and we both might have ended up in the fireball when (I believe) the intake imploded and the aircraft exploded on takeoff. Wayne Skaggs (LTJG then) VF-51 '65-'67 in email 11th February 2012
28th February 1967	USMC	F-8D Crusader	148670	VMFA[AW]-212	Kaneohe, Hawaii	Capt. R. J. Harris ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
3rd March 1967	USN	F-8D Crusader	148679	VF-13, CVA-38	Night Ramp Strike	LTJG Dave D. Johnson out-of-envelope (but successful,) ejection	via Don Johnson	Martin-Baker Mk.5a
7th March 1967	USN	F-8E	150350 NM-111	VF-191 USS TICONDEROGA	Flew into heavy overcast and crashed	LT Robert Lester Miller (KIA)
15th March 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	BuNo 147027 NP-452	VF-24 CVA-31 USS BON HOMME RICHARD	Vietnam Hit the water	LTJG Dean Smith Jr. 25 (KIA/BNR)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
15th March 1967	USN	Vought F-8E Crusader	150681 NJ-???	VF-124	x	x	x	x
17th March 1967	USN	F-8D Crusader	147059	VF-62, CVA-38 Shangri La	NEEDS CLARIFYING	LTJG E. E. Davis Lt. OR Cdr. J. P. Vinti		Martin-Baker Mk.5
17th March 1967	USN	Crusader	147896 CHECK BuNo	VF-62, CVA-38 Shangri La	NEEDS CLARIFYING	LTJG E. E. Davis Lt. OR Cdr. J. P. Vinti		Martin-Baker Mk.5
						Cdr. J. P. Vinti CDR VF-194 during 1969
17th March 1967	USMC	F-8E Crusader	149171 or 148654	VMF[AW]-232	Vietnam. Ran out of fuel Non combat	Capt. W. O. Keneipp		Martin-Baker Mk.5
18th March 1967	USN	F-8D or E ??? Crusader	149171 WT- or 148654	VF-13, CVA-38		Lt. C. W. Clarke		Martin-Baker Mk.5
22nd March 1967	USN	Vought F-8C Crusader	145588	VC-4	Engine exploded and flamed out. Crashed near Murfreesboro, NC	Pilot ejected	x	x
24th March 1967					Near Franklin, VA	Lt. K. B. Wagner		Martin-Baker Mk.5
25th March 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	149147 NP-	VF-53, USS HANCOCK CVA-19	The ship's arrester gear failed and fell into the sea	LTJG James Hamilton Hise ejected below flight deck (KIA)
	I was in VF-51 on the Hancock, and Jim's brother was an F-8 pilot in VF-53 with Jim. Jim was a great pilot and flew a perfect daytime pass, but during the run-out, his hook point broke from what we could tell. The vulture's row camera captured him going off the angle, nose down, and showed his chute deploy and on the surface of the water as the ship went by, but it sank and Jim was not recovered. Bruce Hart aka Coyote
26th March 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	145588	VC-4	US			Martin-Baker Mk.5
12th April 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150876	VF-124	Yuma Tacan	Lt. Cdr. Ray Donnelly ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
12th April 1967	USN	DF-8A Crusader	145411	VC-1	Honolulu, Hawaii	CDR W. L. Alt ejected		Vought or Martin-Baker Mk.5
14th April 1967	French Navy	F-8 Crusader	15			ENS DV F.Bourgeois ejected		Martin-Baker
24th April 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	146915 NP-448	VF-24, USS BON HOMME RICHARD CVA-31	Vietnam. AAA	Lt. Cdr. Edwin Byron Tucker KIA RR 1987		Martin-Baker Mk.5
1st May 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150301 NF-	VF-51, USS HANCOCK CVA-19	Vietnam Non combat Engine failure	LTJG Clay R. "Cyclone" Ramskill ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
4th May 1967	USMC	F-8E Crusader	150316 WT-17	VMF[AW]-232	AAA Rear fuselage was engulfed in flames Vietnam	MAJ Edward F Townley (SURVIVED)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
6th May 1967	USN	Vought F-8E Crusader	149193	VF-162	x	x	x	x
17th May 1967	USN	F-8A Crusader	143821	VT-701 NAS Dallas Reserves	51 miles from Abiline, Texas, in US	LT J. T. McLaughlin ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
17th May 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	149189 NF-101	VF-51, CVA-19	Shot down about 20 miles northwest of the city of Vinh in Nghe An Province, North Vietnam	Lt. Ronald Wayne Dodge POW		Martin-Baker Mk.5]
19th May 1967	USMC	F-8E Crusader	149213 WT-	VMF[AW]-232 Da Nang	AAA. Vietnam	CAPT Harold James Hellbach (KIA)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
19th May 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150930 NP-109	VF-211, USS BON HOMME RICHARD CVA-31	SAM Vietnam	Lt. Cdr. Kay Russell POW		Martin-Baker Mk.5
19th May 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	147021 NP-445	VF-24 USS BON HOMME RICHARD	AAA	Capt William John Metzger Jr. POW		Martin-Baker
21st May 1967	USN	F-8E	150348 NP-105	VF-211 USS BON HOMME RICHARD	AAA	LCDR R G Hubbard
25th May 1967	USN	F-8 Crusader				Lt. J. T. McLaughlin
1st June 1967	USMC	Crusader F-8B	145475	NAS Willow Groves Reserves	NAS Willow Grove, in US	1.Lt. D. H. Clarke ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
2nd June 1967	USN	Crusader F-8E	149217	VF-124, CVA-43 Coral Sea		Lt. D. E. Cowles ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
2nd June 1967	USN	F-8C	147031 NP-447	VF-24 USS BON HOMME RICHARD	Technical malfunction	LCDR Rex Stewart Wood (KIA)
4th June 1967	USMC	Crusader F-8E	149194 DB-5	VMF[AW]-235	Vietnam. Engine flamed out COMBAT or NON COMBAT ???	Lt. COL L. P. Bates		Martin-Baker Mk.5
5th June 1967	USN	RF-8G Crusader	145614 PP-902	VFP-63, det L, USS Bon Homme RichardCVA-31	Vietnam. AAA	LCdr. Collins Henry Haines POW		Martin-Baker Mk.5
6th June 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150303 NP-104	VF-211 USS BON HOMME RICHARD	Ground fire	LTJG Thomas Renwick Hall 1st ejection see also 10th July 1967		Martin-Baker
6th June 1967	USN	RF-8G	145608 PP-991	VFP-63 DET-L USS BON HOMME RICHARD	Hit 57mm AAA but landed safely back on the carrier	Name ??? (SURVIVED)
10th June 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150352 NP-101	VF-211 USS BON HOMME RICHARD	AAA	LTJG Thomas Renwick Hall POW 2nd ejection see also 6th July 1967		Martin-Baker
11th June 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	147002 NP-450	VF-24 USS BON HOMME RICHARD	AAA	LTJG J. R. Miller		Martin-Baker
16th June 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	146969	VMF[AW]-334	El Toro, in US causing large brush fire	MAJ . D. H. Mitchell ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
20th June 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	149209	VMF[AW]-232	Da Nang Vietnam. Engine flamed out[ Combat or Non combat ???]	MAJ Charles Ligon Cronkite ejected found in water face down (KIA)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
Sunday 25th June 1967	USN	F-8A Crusader	143815	NAS Willow Grove Reserves	Went into uncontrollable dive at 8,000 ft. Crashed into a 10 million gallon water tank at Chester Pa.	Lt. Ronald F. Pepka 32 Lansdale ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
26th June 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	149219	VF-124	Yuma, Tacan, in US	ENS P. A. Svare		Martin-Baker Mk.5
30th June 1967	USMC	Vought F-8C Crusader	145582	VMF-334	x	x	x	x
2nd July 1967	USMC	F-8E Crusader	150286 WT-6	VMF[AW]-232	AAA Vietnam	Major Bruce A. Martin [also seen as Hartin] confirm??		Martin-Baker Mk.5]
16th July 1967		F-8E	149134 WT-	VMF(AW)-232	Destroyed on ground by VC attack
16th July 1967		F-8E	150344 WT	VMF(AW)-232	Destroyed on ground by VC attack
16th July 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150925 AH-201	VF-162, USS ORISKANY CVA-34	SAM. Vietnam	Lt. Cdr. Demetrio A Verich		Martin-Baker Mk.5
19th July 1967		F-8E Crusader	150899 AH-206	VF-162, USS ORISKANY CVA-34	AAA Vietnam	CDR Herbert Perry Hunter XO of VF-162 (KIA)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
20th July 1967		F-8E Crusader	150916 AH-	VF-162, CVA-34 Oriskany	Non combat. Settled into the sea being catapulted Vietnam.	Lt. James W. Nunn ejected underwater		Martin-Baker Mk.5
31st July 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	146984 AH-110	VF-111, CVA-34 Oriskany	Vietnam. SAM shot down about 20 miles southeast of Hanoi, .Hai Hung Province, North Vietnam	Lt. Charles Peter Zuhoski ejected POW.		Martin-Baker
12th August 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	146993 AH-12	VF-111, USS INTREPID CVA-11	Vietnam. AAA	Lt. Cdr. Foster Schuler Teague		Martin-Baker Mk.5
22nd August 1967	USN	Vought F-8A Crusader	143817	NARTU Washington	x	x	x	x
NOTE FOUND ON WEB	The Black Barons They deployed from Andrews AFB to NAS Miramar on April 22, 1967 in an incredible six hour, non-stop flight. They returned to "Rosie Roads" in August for a variety of training work-ups. Tragedy struck the Black Barons during this deployment, when Maj. John A. Wilson was killed in a crash. - DATE ????
8th September 1967	USN	F-8A Crusader	143764	NAF Washington DC Reserves	Andrews AFB in US	Lt. T. R. Kniffen ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
8th September 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	146929 AH-1??	VF-111 CVA-34	AAA Electrical failure Vietnam operating in the Tonkin Gulf	Lt. Cdr. Don Baker ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
8th September 1967	". . . I had a successful ejection from an F8 Crusader on September 8, 1967 while operating in the Tonkin Gulf. Yes I was shot down by enemy ground fire, but made it back in the vicinity of the carrier before being forced to eject. We used to have a saying in the F8 Crusader community..."If you fly the Crusader long enough you will have an ejection!" Best regards, Don Baker in email 29th November 2008
8th September 1967	USN	Vought F8 Crusader	146972	VC-7	x	x	x	x
11th September 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150910 AH-202	VF-162, USS ORISKANY CVA-34 also seen as VF-862	Duc Pho Vietnam. Non combat Ran out of fuel	LT James W Shaw (SURVIVED)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
21st September 1967	USN	RF-8G Crusader	144623 NL-710	VMF-63, DET-43 USS CORAL SEA CVA-43	Vietnam. AAA	Lt. Cdr. Milton James Vescelius ejected KIA Remains Returned 1985		Martin-Baker Mk.5
Wednesday 27th September 1967 18:40	USN	Vought RF-8G Crusader	146864	VFP-62, det 38 Cecil Field NAS operating off USS Shagri La	Collided in air with another USN SP-2H Neptune [Patrol Squadron 30, Jacksonville] during heavy rain storm 12 miles from Jacksonville Beach, Florida	LTJG Mark E. Garrett 25 killed	x	Martin-Baker Mk.5

2nd October 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150912 DB-	VMF(AW)-235	Vietnam. Non combat preparing to land DaNang after mission	1LT Patrick Lewis Ott (KIA)		Martin-Baker Mk.5]
5th October 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	146138 or 146938 AH-114	VF-111, Oriskany CVA-34	Aircraft was shot down about 10 miles west of the city of Phat Diem, near the border of Than Hoa and Ninh Binh Provinces, North Vietnam,	ENS David Paul Matheny ejected POW Released 19th February 1968		Martin-Baker Mk.5
5th October 1967	USN	F-8A Crusader	143819	NAS Willow Grove Reserves	Willow Grove, US	Lt. E. T. Keech		Martin-Baker Mk.5]
26th October 1967	USN	F-8E Crusader	150310 AH-206	VF-162, CVA-34 USS Oriskany	Vietnam. SAM	Lt.JG Charles D. Rice ejected POW		Martin-Baker Mk.5
11th November 1967	USN	F-8E	150292	VF-124	Mobile Bay US	LT J. L. Unruh		Martin-Baker Mk.5
17th November 1967	USN	F-8E	150869	VF-124	El Centro, US	LTJG J. D. Clark		Martin-Baker Mk.5
19th November 1967	USN	F-8C	147004 AH-102	VF-111 "Sundowners" USS Oriskany CVW-16	Aircraft remained on deck. [see FEEDBACK below]	LT Edwin Ward Van Orden Jr. ejected landed in catwalk still in seat (KIA)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	Lt Van Orden’s airplane never left the deck and he never crashed into the sea. He was my division officer at the time. I called a long time friend of mine named A. J. Mason who was a checker shirt and asked him about it. Mr Van Ordens airplane stayed on deck with the engine still running and Jack walked up the back of the airplane and reached into the cockpit and shut off the engine master switch. We both remember that he also had just separated from the seat prior to the impact in the catwalk. Thanks Bob Pratt Former AQ1 VF-111 1966 - 1969 in email 4th January 2012, amended 8th January 2012
21st November 1967	USN	RF-8G Crusader	145643	VFP-62, CVA-38 Shangri La	unknown	Lt. G. R. Adams		Martin-Baker Mk.5
5th December 1967	USN	F-8C Crusader	146907	VF-111, USS ORISKANY CVA-34	Vietnam. AAA?	Lt. H. J. Meadows [see also 23rd August 1966]		Martin-Baker Mk.5]


Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
2nd January 1968	USN	F-8C Crusader	146989 AH-106	VF-111 USS Oriskany	Over the beach around Vinh on a photo escort mission suffered total electrical failure. Crashed close to Vietnamese beach over the Than Hoa arean ear hostile fishing vessels	Ltjg Craig M. Taylor ejected over the sea about seven miles from the shore [Later Lt Taylor died in a flight mishap at NAS Miramar on 27th June 1968]		Martin-Baker Mk.5
4th January 1968	USN	Crusader F-8E	150865 AH-206	VF-162, USS ORISKANY CVA-34	Vietnam. SAM	LTJG Richard Willis Minnich (KIA)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
8th January 1968	USN	Vought RF8A Crusader	144609	O & R facility on North Island	En route from the North Island NAS, San Diego to Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona. Crashed into a railroad trestle in Niland, Imperial County.	LTJG Thomas F. Carrier 29 Chula Vista killed [Lt(Jg) Carrier had ejected on 11th February 1967]		Martin-Baker Mk.5
	This is the one I mentioned in my last email. The pilot was LTJG Tom Carrier, released from VF-51 and assigned to O & R facility on North Island (I believe) for remainder of his sea duty and then to be released from active duty. He was taking an F-8 to Litchfield Park. Wayne Skaggs (LTJG then) Assigned to NAVPRO St. Louis in email 11th February 2012
9th January 1968	USMC	Crusader F-8E	150917 DB-18	VMF(AW)-235	Vietnam. AAA	Capt. D. W. Lorenzo		Martin-Baker Mk.5
2nd February 1968	USN	Crusader F-8E	150667 NM-	VF-191, USS TICONDEROGA CVA-14	Gulf of Tonkin, North Vietnam	LT Peter Frederick Cherney (KIA) ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
14th February 1968	USN	Crusader F-8E	150909 NM-402	VF-194 "Red Lightnings" CVA-14 USS Ticonderoga	SAM or ground fire near the city of Vinh, about 15 miles inland.	LTJG Robert Charles McMahan (MIA - KIA) [RR 13th September 1990]	via Jerri Kemp McMahan	Martin-Baker Mk.5
15th February 1968	USN	Crusader F-8E	150293	VRF-32	Glia Bend, Arizona, in US	Lt. Cdr. L. A. Henke ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
23rd February 1968	USMC	Crusader F-8E	150857 DB-	VMF(AW)-235, MAG-11, 1ST MAW, III MAF	Collided with A-6A (152631) of VMA(AW)-533	Capt George Lawrence Hubler KIA
25th February 1968	USN	Crusader F-8E	150335 NM-	VF-191, USS TICONDEROGA CVA-41	Ran out of fuel Tonkin Gulf	Lt.JG Wendell E. Brown		Martin-Baker Mk.5
12th March 1968	USN	Crusader F-8E	150306 NF-207	VF-53, C USS BON HOMME RICHARD VA-31	Bingo divert to Da Nang. GCA approach. Hit trees	LTJG Jerry A. Weber ejected		Martin-Baker
16th March 1968	USMC	Crusader F-8E	149225 DB-11	VMF(AW)-235	Vietnam. AAA	Capt. G. L. Post ejected		Martin-Baker
28th March 1968	USN	Crusader RF-8G	144616 NM-601	VFP-63 DET-14 USS TICONDEROGA	South Vietnam. AAA?.	Lt Cdr. Michael Walter Wallace ejected KIA		Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	" . . . I knew Lt. Mike Wallace, who was shot down in March of 1968, flying from the USS Ticonderoga with VFP-63. I have a couple pictures of him if you would like one to insert in his entry. Please let me know." Sincerely, Frank Bodden in email 12th April 2011, photo provided 13th April 2011
5th April 1968	USN	Vought F8 Crusader	150679	VF-124 Yuma Arizona	Flew into ground on night GCA at Yuma. It is believed that the seat fired on impact. He was found in top of fruit tree the next morning. Survived.	LTJG Phil R. Harrison ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	Extra details thanks to Ed O’Gara in emails 19th August 2009
8th April 1968	USN	F-8B Crusader	145544	VC-5	High speed entry into the break, aircraft stalled and flew into the water, pilot killed. Naha, Japan	LTJG Richard "Dick" A, Genheimer killed		Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	Extra details thanks to Ed O’Gara in emails 19th August 2009
12th April 1968	USN	F-8A Crusader	142410	NAS Dallas Reserves	Dallas, US	Lt. R. B. Von Grote		Martin-Baker Mk.5
19th April 1968	USN	F-8B Crusader	145526	VF-931	Near Chanute AFB, US	Lt. Cdr. W. L. Hill		Martin-Baker Mk.5
April / May 1968	USN	F-8 Crusader		VF-124 NAS Miramar	The pilot apparently suffered vertigo and crashed having completed a night GCA with go-around.	Wright killed		Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	At the end of April 1968 (maybe very early May 68) there was a VF-124 F-8 crash with pilot fatality at NAS Miramar. The FRP had done a night GCA with go-around. During his turn to the north he apparently suffered vertigo and crashed. The pilot's last name was Wright. (USN) He and I had talked about our "mutual" instrument flying problems a day or two before his crash. (I had just turned in my wings.) Robert S. (Bob) Fritzius Lieutenant USNR, Ret Sometime Naval Aviator V25634 in email 11th February 2012
3rd May 1968	USMC	F-8E Crusader	149173 DB-4	VMF(AW)-235 also seen as VMFA 234, MAG 11	AAA Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam	CAPT Stephen William Clark (KIA)		Martin-Baker Mk.5
6th May 1968	USN	F-8C Crusader	147026	VF-111, CVS[?]-11	USS Intrepid	Lt. A J. Nargi		Martin-Baker Mk.5
22nd May 1968	USN	RF-8G Crusader	146886 NF-602	Det 31, VFP-63, CVA-31 Bon Homme Richard	Vietnam. AAA Vinh, NVN, hit by 37mm AAA during photo run	LTJG Edwin Frank Miller POW		Martin-Baker Mk.5
15th June 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	148656	VF-24 CVA-19 USS Hancock	Explosion following Cat shot. Flamed Out	Lt. J. R. Miller		Martin-Baker Mk.5]
25th June 1968	USN	F-8E Crusader	149158 NF-206	VF-53, USS BON HOMME RICHARD CVA-31	Vietnam. Non combat Engine flamed out	Lt.JG Jerry A. Weber		Martin-Baker Mk.5]
27th June 1968 21:02	USN	Vought F-8C Crusader	146998	VF-111	Flew into the ground for unknown reasons 2-3 miles east of Miramar	Lt. Craig Taylor killed [Lt. Taylor had ejected on 2nd January 1968]	x	Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	VF-111 F-8C crash 27 June 1968 The pilot's name was Lt. Craig Taylor. He did not survive. There was no evidence of an ejection attempt. The crash occurred at 2102 hrs 2-3 miles east of Miramar. Craig was the lead and Dave Matheny was the wingman. Craig lost his radio and David was leading an instrument GCA into Miramar. There was no determinitation by the accident board as to the cause. Craig had been shot down on his first mission near Vinh while on a photo escort mission. He was a USNA graduate, a good pilot and a fine officer. John E Laughter VF-111, VX-4, VF-11 in email 11th February 2012
4th July 1968	US	F-8E Crusader	149165 NM-401	VF-194, USS TICONDEROGA CVA-14	Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam, collided with A‑4F 155002	Lt. JG J. F. Strahm		Martin-Baker Mk.5
6th July 1968	USN	F-8A Crusader	143684	NAS Dallas Reserves	Crashed shortly after take off into a residential area near Grand Prairie, Dallas, Texas USA	LT Gary J. Gretter ejected killed		Martin-Baker Mk.5
FEEDBACK	In your F-8 Crusader ejections you have one listed for G. J. (Gary) Gretter, on 6 July 1968. He had a burner malfunction and barely got airborne when he ejected. The a/c hit the RR tracks on the north side of the highway adjcent to NAS DAL north field boundary. After ejection, he landed in the fireball, unfortunately, and was killed. I have forgotten whether we were VF-201 at the time or one of the earlier nomenclatures. Rod Dorr in email 11th February 2012
10th July 1968	USN	Vought F-8C Crusader	147018	VC-10	x	x	x	x
21st July 1968	US	RF-8G Crusader	145642 AK 9	VFP-63, USS INTREPID CVA-det.11	fuel pump failure during test flight in sea off Vietnam,	Lt. F. W. Pfluger ejected and was rescued		Martin-Baker Mk.5
27th July 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	148658	VF-124	Near Miramar, US	Lt. Cdr. N. Donovan		Martin-Baker Mk.5
4th August 1968	USN	F-8C Crusader	146920	VF-124 NAS Miramar	Yuma, US	Lt. C. D. Rottgering ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
Monday 12th August 1968	USN	Vought F-8C Crusader	147001	VF-124 NAS Miramar	Crashed at night North of Miramar Road, West of Hwy 395 in hills in the Black Mountains	LTJG Roman S. Ohnemus 25 Whittier killed	x	x
Monday 12th August 1968	It is possible that a sidewinder from the F-8 hit an oil survey ship off Santa Rosa Island, injuring three men
19th August 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	147924 NP- 2	VF-24 USS HANCOCK	Ran out of fuel South China Sea off SVN	LTJG L R Plotz ejected and was rescued		Martin-Baker Mk.5
24th August 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	148694 NP-	VF-211, USS HANCOCK CVA-19	Hydraulic failure	Lt.JG B. S. Foster		Martin-Baker Mk.5
31st August 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	147897 NP-	VF-24 USS HANCOCK	Ramp strike, broke in two and exploded	LCDR John Eugene Bartocci (KIA)
10th September 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	148680	VF-51, USS BON HOMME RICHARD CVA-31	Engine explosion	Lt. J. N. Quisenberry		Martin-Baker Mk.5
	Quis was an outstanding person and pilot. He was an intellectual which was an oddity in fighter pilot land. He was my wingman for this flight. Right off the catapult, he reported that his engine was compressor stalling. I quickly joined him and could occasionally see fire spit out of the intake as he climbed and experienced more and more compressor stalls. There was some debate with the squadron over the radio as to whether to have an emergency pull forward and try to bring Quis back on board. I recommended that he eject because the engine was spitting more flame out the front, and it appeared that it could quit iwith the aircraft in a state that Quis could not eject safely. Ops finally concurred. Quis got as slow as he could. I was along side when he ejected. We were somewhere around 5-10K. I forget exactly. Out and back he went as I flew alongside the F-8. Then I turned back to find him. Quis saw me circling to check him out, and was coming in quite close. He said that he waved as I went by. Then he realized that wasn't me. The cockpit was empty. That was his own F-8 that just went by him. We thought about shooting it down with a Sidewinder, but it quit flying before that was OK'd. Besides I was keeping my eye on him. Quis hit the water, and I swear that from the air it looked like a 6-8 sharks headed his way, but it must have been some surface phenomenon. He was successfully picked up by a helo. Quis later left the ship at the end of cruise and rode a motorcycle from Cubi south through the PI, then up through Indonesia and Thailand. I forget where he finally left the motorcycle. India maybe? That was Quis. Coyote
17th September 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	148648 NP-204	VF-24 USS HANCOCK	Fuel ran out and engine flamed out	LTJG Paul Eugene Swigart (SURVIVED)
17th September 1968	USN	F-8C Crusader	146942	VF-13	Cecil Field, US	Lt.JG D. J. Wilcox ??		Martin-Baker Mk.5
	Cannot confirm but, I believe the F-8 crash at Cecil Field, Sept. of 1968 was due to over rotation on takeoff. I was in the barracks about 800’ from the impact site. Witnesses said the pilot over rotated braking the tail off at the separation point; as he was in full after burner all the fuel lines parted, allowing the fuel to be ignited by the afterburner flame. The pilot got a fire warning light and ejected, landing only a few yards from the burning aircraft. The only thing left by the time they got the fire out was the tail cone, tail feathers, landing gear, and trash! Pilot survived with compressed vertebrae only. We were playing cards when I heard something different and looked up to hear two small booms, (the ejection seat firing) and the entire night turned in to day as the plane rolled inverted and went in, exploding between the runway and our barracks. Thanks for your web site, when I found it I immediately went looking for this incident. Larry in email 27th May 2011
24th September 1968	USN	F-8C Crusader	146945	VF-124	22 miles from Imperial Vortac, US	Lt. M. T. Najarian ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
25th September 1968	USN	Vought F-8A Crusader	143679	VC-2	x	x	x	x
3rd October 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	148631	VF-111	Yuma Tacan, in US	LTJG G.M. Wright		Martin-Baker Mk.5
3rd October 1968	USN	RF-8G Crusader	144620 NP-	VFP-63 DET-19 USS HANCOCK TF 77, 7TH FLEET	control failure, crashed into the sea off South Vietnam	LT James Lee Merrick Jr. (KIA)
20th October 1968	USN	TF-8A Crusader	143795	NAS Atlanta Reserves	24 miles from Atlanta Tacan, in US	LT D. K. Maskell ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
Saturday 2nd November 1968	USN	Vought F-8J Crusader	150850	VF-124 Miramar Naval Air Station, San Diego	Routine tactical training mission. Crashed near Banner Grade on State 78, Southern California	LTJG Michael Emmett 25 killed
7th November 1968	USN	F-8H Crusader	148707	VF-13, CVA-38 Shangri La	Ramp Strike	Lt. J. R. Musitano ejected		Martin-Baker Mk.5
15th November 1968	US	F-8H Crusader	147923 NP-	VF-211, USS HANCOCK CVA-19	Vietnam. Non combat Ramp strike	Lt. P. R. Scott ejected, landed in safety net		Martin-Baker Mk.5
1st December 1968	USN	Crusader F-8J	149227	VF-51 Miramar Naval Air Station	70 miles from Yuma, US	LTJG Norm McCoy ejected seriously injured		Martin-Baker Mk.5
	I was in the squadron with Norm. He had shot down a MIG in the prior cruise. He got into a inverted spin while in a practice dogfight and broke both femurs during the ejection due to him being in a negative g condition, not tight against the seat, and the seat slapping him on the way out. He was one of the few people ever to recover after breaking both femurs according to our flight surgeon. Coyote.
3rd December 1968	USN	Vought F-8B Crusader	145539	x	x	x	x	x
12th December 1968	USN	Vought F-8H Crusader	?	VF-13 USS Shangri La	Slid off deck	Pilot rescued	x	x
17th December 1968	USN	Vought F8 Crusader	145368	x	x	x	x	x

	Bruce Hart, "Coyote" sent in this photo of members of VF-51 on board CV-19, USS Hancock.	In the back row, - third from the left with the Screaming Eagle patch on his left shoulder, Ron Dodge, ejected, POW/MIA 17th May 1967 - fifth from the left me, Bruce (no ejection) - sixth from the left with his head directly under the "1" of 103, Tom Carrier ramp strike successful ejection. 11th February 1967 Ended up flying into a railroad track trying low inverted flight. - second from the right with his oxygen mask pointed toward us, Clay Ramskill, call sign "Cyclone" Successful ejection, but I don't remember exactly why. 1st May 1967 Front row, on one knee, - second from the right, Ed Hickey, listed as an ejection early in the days of the F-8 23rd March 1959 Sorry that I don't remember the other call signs right now. Can anyone identify more from the photo (Please contact Mike mbenshar@aol.com )
	You have a great site. I have some info on research I have been doing on the RF-8 Crusader that you may wish to include in your site. I could send you this info if you wish so you can pick out the ejections in it. Most of what you have correlates with what I have. However there are a few corrections that I have to point out. 1) The pilot-less RF-8 that was shot down by USN fighters 10/6/1961 was not Bureau No. 145634. Ltjg. J. Baucom ejected from this machine 11/13/1963 off the US east coast. I have a black and white photo of this event with the tail number visible. 2) You have Ltjg. T. V. Hillcom listed for 8/28/1963. The name is actually T. V. Hallcom. I have a roster from that unit with his name on it. 3) The pilot that ejected from Bureau No. 146869 2/19/1964 was LtCdr. John M. McCall. He ejected to low and was killed. He was not recovered. 4) You have two RF-8s listed that can not be RF-8s. The first is 144439 of VC-1 Hawaii 3/17/1964, pilot Berry. The second is 143749 NATC/PAX 9/24/1964. The lowest Bureau No. for the RF-8, other than the prototype which was 141363, was 144607. The lower numbers were fighters most likely. 5) The pilot of the RF-8 145614 lost 6/5/1967 was LtCdr. C. H. Haines who became a POW. 6) The pilot of the RF-8 144623 lost 9/21/1967 was LtCdr. M. J. Vescelius who was KIA. 7) The pilot of the RF-8 144616 lost 3/28/1968 was LtCdr. M. W Wallace who was KIA. This is some of the stuff I have. Let me know if you would like to have more, which is numerous to list here. I do have it on a spread sheet. Where do you get your information at? Again great site, keep up the good work. Scott
	I can help you with some clarifications on some of your records for the year 1967 -- one of them was mine, Mar. 3. Cause was not enemy action, it was a/c malfunctions on a night carrier landing, ramp strike, Mediterranean. 17 Mar -- both lost due to a mid-air during formation maneauvering, Med. 18 Mar -- ramp strike, Med. 15 Oct. -- Dave Matheny shot down, POW NVN. 1-9-68 VF-13 ejection was at Cecil Field, FL, overrotation on night takeoff, pilot Ltjg David Wilcox. 7 Nov. 68 -- Night ramp strike, CVA-38, Med. Dave Johnson
FEEDBACK	Mike, I appreciate all the work that has gone into this database. In Part 3, Jan 9,1968 I believe the squadron was still known as VMF(AW)-235 and would later be called VMFA-235 when it was converted to another aircraft F-18s(?). Same for Mar 16, 1968 Same for May 3, 1968 which also needs the pilot's last name, Stephen William Clark. Same for Oct 2, 1967 I hope this helps. John Becker 451/235 in email 19th November 2008 [site amendements made 20th November 2008]