Work in progress

Although it was 30+ years ago, and I heard this story from my great-uncle who was also Charlie's uncle (on the other side of the family), the story as I remembered it … Charlie was the narrator and back-up pilot, so was not flying in the actual show. Accompanying him in flying over a Stock Show/Rodeo was a media person. They had some kind of trouble. (I don't think I ever knew if it was engine, or what.) Charlie had the guy in the plane with him eject, and Charlie was able to get the plane past all the people on the ground, but crashed into a pen of livestock before he could eject.

The San Antonio Light of July 26, 1977: carried a report of the loss
part of which is printed below

". . . A Luling** man killed in a crash of a jet trainer belonging to Air Force's have given up his own life rather than allow the jet to crash into 3 clump of campers Capt Charlie Carter 33 of Luling was killed Monday in the crash of the plane on a rain-swept rodeo parking lot as the plane was attempting to land at a nearby airport. "
**(Luling, Texas is about 60 miles east of San Antonio.)
Full story can be found at LINK

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit - Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
13th December 1954	USAF	F-84G		Thunderbird	solo training at Luke	Capt. George Kevil	killed
26th September 1957	USAF	F-100C		Thunderbird	solo training at Nellis	Capt. Bob Rutte	killed
9th October 1958	USAF	C-123			crashed on way to airshow 50 miles NW of Boise, Idaho	14 members of Thunderbirds
12th March 1959	USAF	F-100C		Thunderbird	solo training at Nellis	Capt. C. D. Salmon	killed
27th July 1960	USAF	F-100C		Thunderbird	Crashed during a solo proficiency flight, Nellis	Capt. J. R. Crane	killed
6th April 1961	USAF	F-100F		Thunderbird	Crashed during training at Nellis.
6th April 1961	USAF	F-100F		Thunderbird	Crashed during training at Nellis.	Maj. Robert Fitzgerald Cmdr/Ldr	Capt. George Nail Narrator	killed
24th September 1961	USA	C-123		Army Golden Knights	crashed on take-off at an airshow in Wilmington, NC	TSgt John Lesso [Thunderbirds C-123] killed
9th May 1964	USAF	Republic F-105B-15RE Thunderchief	57-5801 Thunderbird 2		Aircraft broke apart during a climb due to structural problems. following a low pass over Hamilton Air Force Base, California	Captain Eugene "Gene" Devlin	killed
12th October 1966	USAF	F-100F		Thunderbird	Crashed during a flight at Indian Springs Auxiliary Field in Nevada
12th October 1966	USAF	F-100F		Thunderbird		Capt. Robert Morgan	Maj. Frank Leithen Exec Officer	killed
9th January 1969	USAF	F-100D		Thunderbird	solo training at Nellis	Capt. Jack Thurman	killed
4th June 1972	USAF	F-4E Phantom II	66-0321	Thunderbird Right Wing	Duls Airport	Maj. Joe Howard ejected 1500 feet - killed - blown back into crash fire
21st December 1972	USAF	F-4E Phantom II	67-0367 while loaned to team	Thunderbird	Crashed during flight test at Nellis. AFB, NV
21st December 1972	USAF	F-4E Phantom II	67-0367 while loaned to team	Thunderbird	Crashed during flight test at Nellis. AFB, NV	Capt. Jerry Bolt killed	Tech Sgt. Chuck Lynn killed
18th March 1973	USAF	F-4E Phantom II	66-0290		crashed Holloman AFB, NM. [ Had sustained damage in landing on 20 Jan 71 (#8) - repaired]
18th March 1973	USAF	F-4E Phantom II	66-0290			Captain Mike "Rip" Blaisdell ejected
25th July 1977	USAF	Northrop T-38A Talon		Thunderbird	Crashed during manoeuvres at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming	Capt. Charlie Carter deliberately remained in aircraft to avoid crashing into crowd	killed
FEEDBACK	Although it was 30+ years ago, and I heard this story from my great-uncle who was also Charlie's uncle (on the other side of the family), the story as I remembered it … Charlie was the narrator and back-up pilot, so was not flying in the actual show. Accompanying him in flying over a Stock Show/Rodeo was a media person. They had some kind of trouble. (I don't think I ever knew if it was engine, or what.) Charlie had the guy in the plane with him eject, and Charlie was able to get the plane past all the people on the ground, but crashed into a pen of livestock before he could eject. The San Antonio Light of July 26, 1977: carried a report of the loss part of which is printed below ". . . A Luling man killed in a crash of a jet trainer belonging to Air Force's have given up his own life rather than allow the jet to crash into 3 clump of campers Capt Charlie Carter 33 of Luling was killed Monday in the crash of the plane on a rain-swept rodeo parking lot as the plane was attempting to land at a nearby airport. " (Luling, Texas is about 60 miles east of San Antonio.) Full story can be found at LINK This is a picture of Charlie: http://www.thunderbirdsalumni.com/Photo+Gallery/Misc+Photos/997.aspx Lisa Bailey in email 14th February 2008
9th May 1981	USAF	Northrop T-38A Talon	Thunderbird 6		Engine failure during a low approach. Crashed in a Layton field south of the runway Hill Air Force Base, Ogden, Utah	Capt. David L. "Nick" Hauck deliberately remained in aircraft to avoid crashing into crowd	killed
8th September 1981	USAF	Northrop T-38A Talon		Thunderbird	Ingests seagulls and stalls while leaving Cleveland. Crashed into Lake Erie	Lt. Col. D. L. Smith Cmdr/Ldr	killed	no ejection
18th January 1982	USAF	Northrop T-38A Talon			During a practice over Range 65 the team was conducting a line abreast loop manoeuvre when a malfunction in the lead plane caused mid-air collision "Diamond Crash," at Indian Springs	Maj. Norm Lowry - commander/leader	killed
	USAF	Northrop T-38A Talon				Capt. Willie Mays - left wing	killed
	USAF	Northrop T-38A Talon				Captain Joseph "Peter" Peterson - right wing killed
	USAF	Northrop T-38A Talon				Capt. Mark Melancon - slot	killed
	CPT Joseph "Peter" Petersen of the Thunderbirds. Died in January 1982 while attempting a difficult aerial manuever over the Nevada desert
14th February 1994	USAF	F-16C Block 32H	Thunderbird no. 6 87309		Crashed at Indiana Springs Auxiliary Airfield, Nevada during "spiral descent" manoeuvre.	Pilot ??? survived

Below are temporary links to specific Aerobatic Teams and their Losses and Ejections - All are considered works in progress and addition material / amendments welcomed - and acknowledged

Blue Angels	Red Arrows	Snowbirds	Frecce Tricolor	Green Falcons
Thunderbirds