WORK IN PROGRESS - More to add

 Aircraft by type

Douglas Aircraft
F4D-1 Skyray
("Ford")
LOSSES AND EJECTIONS
 

PLEASE CAN YOU ADD ANY EXTRA LOSSES OR EJECTIONS OR DETAILS ???

DRAFT LISTING
                 
1956  

?? ?? 1956


USMC

Douglas F-4D Skyray

 

 El Toro

flameout  about 12-15,000 ft

Major ???
killed

 

 
17th January 1956   Douglas F-4D Skyray     Crashed near Los Alamitos Naval Air Station approaching the field for an emergency landing Kesler
killed		    
8th May 1956
confirm date ???


USMC

Douglas F-4D Skyray

 134758
AE 1		 VMF-115
El Torro, USA		 Engine flameout during landing approach. Crashed during dead stick landing Lieutenant Colonel John S. Flickinger
killed		    

8th May 1956


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

 

 

 

LT W. W. Salter ejected safely
landed in a tree

 

 Douglas
  Can anyone confirm the above two losses
4th June 1956


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG T. H. Hawkes
ejected safely
inverted		   Douglas
9th July 1956


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG A. E. Anderson
ejected		   Douglas
14th August 1956


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT. D. L. Snead
ejected		   Douglas
22nd October 1956


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       ENS G. L. Cribbs
ejected		   Douglas
19th November 1956


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LCDR R. K. Awtrey
ejected		   Douglas
13th December 1956


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

   VF-141
NAS Miramar, CA		   LTJG Everett L. Jenkins
ejected		   Douglas
1957  
4th January 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

   VF-141   LTJG Joe L. Strabala
ejected		   Douglas
                 
                 
22nd March 1957
USN		 Douglas
F4D-1 Skyray		   VF-141
NAS Miramar, CA		 On board USS Essex [CVA-11] for carrier qualifications. Brake failure, rolled off deck Lt. Norman L. Sothan
ejected underwater

[personal testimony]

   Douglas

9th May 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

134777
ND

 VF-23
Moffett Field 

Crashesd near Cambrian Park, National Avenue, Santa Clara, CA

ENS E. C. Craig
ejected

crash photo available 

 Douglas
11th May 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG Speakman
ejected		   Douglas
3rd June 1957
USMC		 Douglas
F4D-1 Skyray		     Supersonic ejection 37 miles from San Diego, California 1st LT Theodore C. Muller, Jr. [25]
Killed		   Douglas
3rd July 1957
USMC		 Douglas
F4D-1 Skyray		       CAPT A. R. Ridenour
ejected
killed		   Douglas
24th September 1957
USN		 Douglas
F4D-1 Skyray		 ??? USS Saratoga Crashed on approach to Aircraft Carrier     Douglas

USN		 Douglas
F4D-1 Skyray		 134896 USS Saratoga  Mid Air Collision during NATO Exercise "Strike Back". Crashed into the North Atlantic off Andoya, Norway     Douglas

USN		 Douglas
F4D-1 Skyray		 134902 USS Saratoga     Douglas
Following the loss of the first FD4-1  S2F-2 aircraft, each with a crew of four, from VS-36 (USS Essex) joined in the search. Two of the S2F's collided in mid-air and crashed into the sea.
  The two S2F's crews were - can anyone match them to their individual aircraft ?
       
Eugene Joseph McAuliffe AT 3/Cl Roland Joseph Denis Lt. John Gerog Hansen Lt. Walther Gusteav Langloh
       
ATAN Charles Edward Morelock AT 3/Cl. Bernard Herman Solfield Ensign Richard William Tang Farland Wilbert Updike, Jr.
 

1st October 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

?

   crashed of into a Mountain View nursery, CA Pilot killed   Douglas
7th October 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG R. D. Mullen
ejected		   Douglas
 
A Navy F4D1 Skyray jet bound for Moffett Field crashes near Cambrian Park. The pilot bailed out of the disabled aircraft, which crashed in the yard of a home at 15347 National Av, about half a mile southeast of the San Jose-Los Gatos Rd. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
7th November 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT D. E. Ellis
ejected		   Douglas
16th November 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG W. F. Tucker
ejected		   Douglas
6th December 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG John Downs
ejected		   Douglas
11th December 1957


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LCDR J. S. Lake
ejected		   Douglas
1958  
10th January 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

     Crashed near New Almaden LTJG A. B. Kureger
ejected		    
28th January 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       ENS R. M. Westfall
ejected		   Douglas
14th February 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LCDR T. J. Conray
ejected		   Douglas
17th March 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT E. S. Wallace
ejected		   Douglas
18th March 1958


Douglas

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

 4762
???		 Douglas
El Segundo California		 Santa Monica, California Leo J. "Pete" Colapietro
ejected at high speed
[claimed around 650 knots]		   Douglas
Major injuries, broken arm, fractured pelvis, cracked vertebrae, dislocated shoulder
 

ANOTHER HIGH-SPEED BALE-OUT

AFTER a fortnight in hospital with multiple injuries,  Leo Colapietro, Douglas test pilot, was able to give some details of his recent escape from an F4D Skyray at a speed reported to have been 650 m.p.h. He described his experiences after ejection as ". . . one climax after another. My helmet and oxygen mask were ripped off, then my gloves and wristwatch went. My clothes started to tear. I was spinning wildly, but I remember giving a sigh of relief when I saw that parachute canopy blossom out. I hit the water pretty hard and my 'chute began dragging me down, but I took a deep breath, put my face under the water and used both arms together to get at the toggles to inflate my life vest." Colapietro was picked up after 45 minutes by the U.S. Coast Guard; and it was then found that he had a broken arm, a dislocated shoulder and two black eyes. North American test pilot George Smith, ejected from an F-100 at over Mach 1 at about 6,000ft in 1956, suffered severe internal and eye injuries. He spent many months in hospital, but has now been flying F-lOOs again for some time.

FLIGHT 2nd May 1958 p.600
14th April 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LCDR L. T. Ward
ejected		   Douglas
14th May 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

 134762   light controls locked up after a flight control crankpin failed LCDR S. Joel Premselaar ejected
inverted		   Douglas
15th May 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       ENS N. J. Rowe
ejected		   Douglas
28th June 1958 USMC   139034 MCAS Cherry Point, NC crashed on takeoff Pilot killed    
20th July 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG A. A. Coward
ejected		   Douglas
9th August 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG R. L. Johnson
ejected		   Douglas
13th August 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT. F. L. White
ejected		   Douglas
14th August 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG J. M. Hendricks
ejected		   Douglas
3rd September 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG E. J. Devine
ejected		   Douglas
4th September 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG R. G. Payne
ejected		   Douglas
29th September 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LCDR J. T. Parady
ejected		   Douglas
15th October 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       ENS J. S. Coleman
ejected		   Douglas
8th November 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT R. J. Cowdy
ejected		   Douglas
18th November 1958
USN		 F4D-1
Skyray		     over land LT. R. M. Zook
ejected		   Douglas
19th November 1958
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray     Santa Anna California. Sants Fe San Diegan train crashed into the aircraft that had come to rest across the rail tracks 2nd LT Phillip M. Schmidt
[23]
pulled from aircraft		   Douglas
19th November 1958


USMC

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       CAPT J. G. Gray
ejected		   Douglas
24th November 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT F. P. Anderson
ejected		   Douglas
18th December 1958


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

   North Island Naval Air Station   Pilot killed    
1959  
6th January 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LCDR W. L. Armstrong
ejected		   Douglas
10th January 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG J. Shulick
ejected		   Douglas
15th January 1959
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray 139100 USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) swerved off the deck and fell into the water on the port side while landing Pilot killed   Douglas
31st January 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT W. A. Sells
ejected		   Douglas
10th February 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT J. P. Dawson
ejected		   Douglas
6th March 1959


USMC

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       CAPT R. W. McNutt
ejected		   Douglas
6th March 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT P. G. Newman
Royal Navy
ejected		   Douglas
18th May 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG T. L. Rhoades
ejected		   Douglas
24th July 1959
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray 134916   Crashed into Mediterranean Sea Pilot killed   Douglas
11th August 1959

USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT V. J. Fulladosa
ejecetd		   Douglas
19th August 1959
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray 139035 CVA-42 Engine flameout during landing attempt on. Crashed into Mediterranean 1st LT D. H. Schofield
ejected.
parachute streamed and he was killed
Body not recovered		   Douglas
25th August 1959


USMC

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       CAPT C. V. Smillie
ejected
also ejected from a Skyray on
 19th January 1963		   Douglas
21st September 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT D. T. Sesslar
ejected		   Douglas
5th October 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT J. C. Cabanillas
ejected		   Douglas
26th October 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT W. E. James, Jr.
ejected		   Douglas
19th November 1959


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT S. L. Hart
ejected		   Douglas
1960  
22nd January 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG W. A. Kerr
ejected		   Douglas
FEEDBACK

I am researching a paint scheme for a VF-13 Skyray and came across your site.  There is a W.A. Kerr listed as ejecting on Jan 20, 1960.  There is a W. Kerr listed in the Essex cruisebook from VF-13 that flew F4Ds from August 7, 1959 to Feb 26, 1960. 

Joe Falen
Princeton, Minnesota
in email 5th November 2008
28th February 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LT F. B. Sketettee
ejected		   Douglas
20th April 1960


USMC ??

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       MAJOR H. K. Jobe   Douglas
6th July 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT N. E. Price
USAF
ejected		   Douglas
18th July 1960
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray 134924 VF-102
Diamondback's		 crashed on flight deck Pilot uninjured   Douglas
12th August 1960

USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG L. G. Anton
ejected		   Douglas
16th September 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG J. R. Swink
ejected		   Douglas
4th October 1960


USMC

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

   VMFA (AW) 531, the Grey Ghost Sqd
MCAS Cherry Point		 On a routine ordnance training mission. Crashed  in the Croatan National Forest on approach to Cherry Point four miles from the field. 1st Lieutenant James
"Jimmy" Charles Norton
killed		    

21st October 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

130745

 NAS China Lake, CA

Simulating carrier takeoffs. Aircraft stalled and flipped over on its back. Crashed at NAS China Lake, CA

Lieutenant Jan M. Graves
[U.S. Navy Reserve] killed 

 

 Douglas
20th November 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG T. W. Sitek
ejected		   Douglas
20th December 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       1st LT C. R. Klingensmith
ejected		   Douglas
22nd December 1960


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTCOL W. D. Patterson
ejected		   Douglas
1961  
4th January 1961


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

   VMFA (AW) 531, the Grey Ghost Sqd
MCAS Cherry Point		 Exploded just after take-off LTCOL George J. "Ripper" Collins
ejected
landed in Neuse River		   Firts Squadron life saved by Martin-Baker Seat
20th February 1961


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

       LTJG B. McCandless II
ejected		   Douglas

1st May 1961

USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

139048

 

 

 

 

 Douglas
3rd May 1961

USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

 134846 VF-102
Diamondback's		   LTJG L. B. Mann ejected
rescued		   Douglas
  BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST F4D-1 SKYRAY USE OF THE MARTIN-BAKER Mk. 5
see entry for 4th January 1961
6th June 1961
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray       1st Lt. D. E. Auten   Martin-Baker
14th June 1961
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray        ENS K. G. O'Gorman, Jr.
ejected		   Martin-Baker
25th August 1961
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray       LCDR H. E. Swanson
ejected		   Douglas
10th November 1961
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray       1st Lt. R. C. Deyo
ejected		   Martin-Baker Mk. 5A
20th November 1961
USN		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray       1st LT J. A. Chesney
ejected		   Martin-Baker Mk. 5A
1962  
17th January 1962
USMC		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray       1st LT J. I. Fox
ejected		   Martin-Baker Mk. 5

28th February 1962


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

139113

 

Damaged beyond repair

 

 

??

21st March 1962


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

139067

 

Damaged beyond repair

 

 

??

4th April 1962


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

139082

 

Damaged beyond repair

 

 

 ??

1st June 1962


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

139204
6F

   Naval Air Reserve Training Unit
NARTU, Jacksonville

 

 

 

 ??
10th July 1962
USMC		 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray       LTJG G. B. "Rod" Creagh
ejected 		   Martin-Baker Mk. 5
 

I worked the flight deck of the USS Hancock CVA-19 from early 1959 through the end of 1962. During one at sea period possibly in 61 or 62 we had a group of F4D’s doing carrier quals. One hit hard and fast but caught the wire. It tore the entire rear section of the aircraft off leaving the front , cockpit and leading edge of the aircraft intact. The tail came sliding up the deck and we all ran over to the # 2 elevator to see the aircraft in the water. It had bounced and took an upward angle. It looked like a rocket headed up on a launce, the pilot ejected and was just clear of the aircraft and then we saw the shock wave when it exploded, nosed over and went in a spiral to crash. The Hup 2 was on site immediately standing off so as not to tangle or collapse his chute. When he hit the water he was recovered within 3 minutes and brought back aboard unhurt. I heard he flew again that day before he could think about the narrow escape too much.

I have been unable to find out if it was a Marine group or Navy group. It may have been off the coast of California. Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Dennis Flynn

V-6 Div Flight deck start crew leader, USS Hancock CVA-19 1958 – 1962

dpflynn@sbcglobal.net

 
1963  

4th January 1963


USMC

Douglas F-6A Skyray

139139

 

 

Lt. Michael R. Penton
killed

 CHECK THIS IS NOT THE LOSS FOR THE 6th Below

 ??
   

6th January 1963


USN

Douglas F-6A Skyray

134774

  Naval Air Reserve Training Unit
NARTU, Olathe

 

 

 

 ??

14th January 1963


USN

Douglas F-6A Skyray

139205
UF

 VU-3
Utility Squadron 3

 

LTJG W. E. Handley
ejected

 

Martin-Baker Mk. 5 

19th January 1963


USN

Douglas F-6A
(F4D-1)
Skyray

139065
VE

 VMF-115
 Joe's Jokers

Damaged beyond repair

CAPT C. V. Smillie, Jr.
ejected
2nd Ejection from a Skyray - see also 25th August 1959

 

 Martin-Baker Mk. 5 

2nd February 1963


USN

Douglas F-6A Skyray

134927K

  Naval Air Reserve Training Unit
NARTU, Olathe

 

Cdr. L. A. Cole
ejected

 

Martin-Baker Mk. 5 
1964  

2nd March 1963


USN

Douglas F-6A Skyray

139180
WF

 VMF-513
Flying Nightmares

 

 

 

 Martin-Baker Mk. 5 

23rd March 1964


USN

Douglas NF-6A Skyray

134854

 NATF, Lakehurst

 

 

 

Martin-Baker Mk. 5  

19th July 1964


USN

Douglas F-6A Skyray

134826
7K

   Naval Air Reserve Training Unit
NARTU, Olathe

Crashed in Manzano Mountains in central New Mexico 

Pilot
killed.  

 

 Martin-Baker Mk. 5 

24th July 1964


USN

Douglas DF-6A Skyray

139153
UF

 VU-3
Utility Squadron 3

 24 miles from Sand Diego

Lt. W. Vickers
ejected 

 

Martin-Baker Mk. 5
1965  

29th January 1965


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

134746

 Naval Air Training Command

Pax River

 Lt. D. C. Farrell
ejected

 

 Martin-Baker Mk. 5
1st December 1965


USN

Douglas F4D-1 Skyray

  

 Naval Air Training Command

20 miles from Pax River

 Lt. R. S. McAfee
ejected		   Martin-Baker Mk. 5
                 

 

Page created 16th July 2008
Page Last updated Tuesday, 25 October 2011 17:55

 

 

DOUGLAS SKYRAY

NOTES
Douglas seat
Martin-Baker seat Mk 5
Escape Capsule - trial
Gemini - Ejection Seat tests

 

 

US Navy

             
VFAW-3
[VC-3]		 VF-13 VF-23 VF-51 VF-74 VF-101 VF-102
Diamondback's
             
VF-141 VF-162 VF-213 VF-881 VF-882 VU-3
Utility Squadron 3		  

US Marines

             
VMF-113 VMF-114 VMF-115
 Joe's Jokers		 VMF-215 VMF-314 VMF-513
Flying Nightmares		 VMF(AW)-542

 

             
NACA / NASA