On 14 May 1958 M B "Buck " Peck was leading a flight of 4 FJ-4's on a high altitude (40,000') sidewinder practice mission over the China Lake gunnery range.  We were flying out of MCAS Mojave.  This was part of a combat readiness inspection and we were accompanied by a Major, ( Don't recall his name at this time.) to observe and grade us.

Buck had briefed us before hand that since it was uncomfortable and put a negative load on the A/C he would fire the target 5" rocket from a slightly nose high attitude at 43,000' and then roll over and track the target rocket with the sidewinder by putting positive g's on the A/C.  This he did, but when he fired the sidewinder, it hung up on the rail.  The ensuing thrust of the sidewinder put him into an inverted flat spin, plus all that thrust sprung the wet wing enough so that fuel escaped and caught fire.  I was flying B/N 139464 on his wing and could see  that he was having a difficult time figuring out what to do and told him to eject.  As luck would have it, as soon as he ejected, the A/C roll right side up and flew into the ground in almost a level attitude.  It was a good ejection and the first time, (only time) that the automatic parachute opener was used.

He was picked up by the rescue chopper out of Edwards in fine shape except that he lost his Rolex watch when the chute opened.

W.F. Mitchell USMCR
in email 22nd October 2009