F3H DEMON

Aircraft by type

F-3 Demon
LOSSES AND EJECTIONS

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

DRAFT LISTING

A lot of Losses and mishaps have still to be linked together

extra information is being established
? denotes almost unreadable from archive copy - the records were handwritten.
If you have any photos of any of the mentioned pilots in an old Cruise Book could you please send a high res scan (300dpi or higher to mbenshar@aol.com along with a brief note of who it is)

MISSING FROM THE LISTS

I know from other research that there are several ejection, some successful, some not that took place that I cannot find a name, or a date for. Help appreciated in identifying those missing from the list

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
9th March 1954	McDonnell	McDonnell XF-3H-1 Demon	125444	McDonnell	Engine exploded. Crashed on land	B. North ejected at 15,000 ft		McDonnell Seat
9th March 1954	McDonnell	McDonnell XF-3H-1 Demon	125444	McDonnell	Engine exploded. Crashed on land	Was this Gilbert B. North the McDonnell Test Pilot ????
18th March 1954	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-1N Demon	133490	McDonnell	Test flight. Engine fire. Tumbling. Crashed at sea.	LCDR N. J. Smith III ejected at 14,000 ft, 480 kt. Struck seat	Was this Nick Smith ??	McDonnell Seat
	The first prototype crashed after an in-flight engine explosion March 18, 1954
1st November 1954	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-1N Demon	133491	McDonnell	Test flight			McDonnell Seat
?? January 1955	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	?	NAS Patuxent River, MD. USA	Crashed NAS Patuxent River			McDonnell Seat
23rd February 1955	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-1N Demon	133520	McDonnell	Test flight			McDonnell Seat
15th April 1955	USN	McDonnell F-3H-1N Demon	133499	NATC	Test flight			McDonnell Seat
18th May 1955	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-1N Demon	133495	McDonnell	Test flight			McDonnell Seat
10th June 1955	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Failed to recover from spin			McDonnell Seat
7th July 1955	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-1N Demon	133494	McDonnell	Test flight			McDonnell Seat
6th October 1955	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon		McDonnell Illinois	Crashed in a cornfield near Monticello, Iowa, plane flew on for 250 miles after pilot ejected	Test Pilot George Mills bailed out, Carrollton, Illinois,		McDonnell Seat
6th October 1955	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133558		Test flight	LT V. F. Schaeffer ejected at 26,000 ft 260 kt rolling. Struck windshield		McDonnell Seat
10aug56	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133603 "D"	VF-124	crashed on deck of carrier at 80-90 kt and ejected	LCDR James "Jim" W. Ewing partially ejected survived		McDonnell Seat
3rd October 1956 [1st ejection]	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133607 "D"	VF-124	Over land	LTJG Ralph "Skeeter" Carson ejected at 2,500 ft [see also 14th January 1957]		McDonnell Seat
	Are these details for the 1st or second ejection ??? Crashed in heavy fog bound for NAS Miramar. He spent the night in the wild, but was rescued the following morning with only minor injuries
16oct56	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133600 "D"	VF-124				McDonnell Seat
4jan57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon	133630	NATC		LT. H. C. Joines ejected at circa 6,000 ft 220 kt		McDonnell Seat
4jan57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon	133630	NATC		manual release as auto seat belt failed
14th January 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon	???	VF-124	over land	LTJG Ralph "Skeeter" Carson ejected at 4,500 ft 170 kt [see also 3rd October 1956]		McDonnell Seat
30jan57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133622	VF-14				McDonnell Seat
21feb57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133601	VF-82				McDonnell Seat
14may57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133608	VF-122 Black Angels				McDonnell Seat
21st May 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon			Nose down spin	LTJG "Tiny" Wenzlau ejected, 25000 ft 525 kt		McDonnell Seat
jun57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	?	VF-31	Crashed into a swamp, Al. USA	Pilot ??? ejected safely		McDonnell Seat
2jun57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon	133633	VF-61				McDonnell Seat
6jun57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	136993	VF-31	Engine failed during thunderstorm. Crashed into Atlantic 150 miles of the coast of Georgia	Pilot CDR J. E. Tefft ejected but killed	name ???	McDonnell Seat
6jun57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	136994	VF-31	Engine failed during thunderstorm. Crashed into Atlantic 150 miles of the coast of Georgia	Pilot ejected		McDonnell Seat
20th June 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Over water	LT. E. A. Pelton ejected at 8,500 ft 150 kt	Was this Sam Pelton ??	McDonnell Seat
20th June 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Over water	Freed himself from chute underwater. Picked up by freighter 5 1/2 hours later
26jul57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133613	VF-14				McDonnell Seat
29jul57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133596 "LA"	FAWTUATLANT [Fleet All Weather Training Unit - Atlantic] NAS				McDonnell Seat
20th August 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon			over water	LCDR W. A. Atkins ejected at 23,000 ft 150 kt Rescued after 15 hours		McDonnell Seat
20th August 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon			over water	ENS T. L. Draper ejected at 8,000 ft 150 kt		McDonnell Seat
28th August 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon			over water	ENS H. S. Moulson ejected circa 500-1000 ft did not leave seat	(Is this Scotty Molson ??)	McDonnell Seat
8th September 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			spin	LTJG T. C. Grier ejected at between 20-28,000 ft 300 kt		McDonnell Seat
23rd September 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	136986	VF-122 Black Angels	NAS Barbara Point	LTJG Sessions killed
25th September 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon		over land		LCDR B. C. Spell ejected at 22,000 ft, 200 kt		McDonnell Seat
sep57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	?	NAS St. Louis, MO. USA	Crashed near NAS			McDonnell Seat
3sep57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133562	NATC				McDonnell Seat
3sep57	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133616	VF-14				McDonnell Seat
30th October 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	136988	VF-122 Black Angels CVA-14		non-fatal
4th November 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon		VF-82 U.S.S. Ranger (CVA-61)	catapulted overboard (cold cat) and never found	LTJG Thomas E. Ries lost body never recovered		McDonnell Seat
FEEDBACK	Info. taken from 11/8/1957 Ranger publication and sent by Don Germeyer AM2 VF-82 in email 6th June 2009
16th November 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	160932	VF-122 Black Angels	lost at sea	LTJG Witherstine killed
16th November 1957	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	136998	VF-122 Black Angels	over water	LT P. L. Working ejected at 5000 ft 150-200 kt 3 hours in raft		McDonnell Seat
24th March 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133564	VF-82		LT. Harmon C. Grubbs ejected at 15,000 ft 300-400 kt inverted dive		McDonnell Seat
26th March 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon		VF-64		LTJG A. J. Delano ejected at 10,000 ft 240 kt		McDonnell Seat
28th March 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon				LT J. O. Moore ejected 6500 ft 150 kt		McDonnell Seat
15th April 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133705	VF-31 USS Saratoga	CAP Fuel leak - Engine problems	LTJG Charles T. Sylvester ejected at 15,000 ft 150-160 kt rescued from water by helo flown by LTJG W. D. Dobbs and crew		Martin-Baker Mk.5
8th July 1958	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133597	McDonnell	Test flight	LCDR H. R. Po??man ejected		McDonnell Seat
16th July 1958	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon			flameout	LTJG George Canfield ejected		McDonnell Seat
18th July 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon				CDR C. M. ??? ejected		McDonnell Seat
19th July 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133584	VF-31		LT E. H. Pearce ejected		McDonnell Seat
1st August 1958	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon				CAPT G. Rogge USAF ejected		McDonnell Seat
8th August 1958	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon			flameout	LTJG W. K. Rhodes ejected		McDonnell Seat
5th September 1958	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon		VF-64	Landing gear damaged	LT William "Bill" D. Dittmar ejected while climbing		McDonnell Seat
12sep58	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon	133628	NATC				McDonnell Seat
28sep58	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133589 "NJ"	VF-121				McDonnell Seat
9th December 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon				LTJG Rod B. Carter ejected		McDonnell Seat
10th December 1958	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133591	VF-31		LT John S. Patton ejected		McDonnell Seat
27th January 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon		Over land		LTJG P. J. Gallagher ejected at 1200 ft 180 kt		McDonnell Seat
27mar59	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	?		Near La Jolia, CA. USA			McDonnell Seat
20th May 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2M Demon	133634	VF-21				McDonnell Seat
24th June 1959	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon				LTJG G. J. Radington ejected		McDonnell Seat
7th August 1959	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon				ENS P. Fredericks ejected		McDonnell Seat
10th August 1959	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon			Explosion and loss of thrust	LTJG J. J. Walter ejected		McDonnell seat
16th September 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Over land	LTJG T. J. O'Leary bailed out Parachute streamed Killed
16th September 1959	Confirmation needed - USN records give this as a bail-out - not an ejection
	Probably one of, if not the first, use of a Martin-Baker Mk.5 Ejection Seat by the USN
29th September 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	????	VF-101 NAS Boca Chica	Flameout	LTJG Ben J. Smith ejected at 5-6000 ft		Martin-Baker

7th October 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Flameout due to fuel exhaustion. Waved off	LTJG J. F. Dorsey ejected between 5 - 7,000 ft 120 kt		McDonnell seat

4th November 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Mid - air over Iwakuni, Japan	LTJG Richard "Dick" Ralston ejected 2500 ft		McDonnell seat
4th November 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Mid - air over Iwakuni, Japan	LT Winchester ???	Details needed	McDonnell seat
4th November 1959	Winchester landed his Demon after the midair with half his starboard wing gone.....He ended up with the plane straddling a benjo ditch past the end of the runway
19th November 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon			Fuel Exhaustion, flame out	LCDR J. F. Bangham ejected at 4500 ft 160 kt		McDonnell seat
4th December 1959	USN	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon		NAS Miramar		ENS Albert Joe Hickman killed stayed with aircraft to avoid crashing onto Hawthorne Elementary School, Clairemont Mesa		No Ejection
	Allan Anderson witnessed one F3 accident. Al Hickman flew into the ground at Miramar NAS when he came into the break and had to loose 500’ of altitude make a 180 degree turn and change radio freq. at the same time. He did not survive. This was in VF-121 the replacement squadron.
5th January 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon		USS Independence	Night landing. Broke nose wheel on landing. The wheel ran along the deck breaking a sailor's leg
11th January 1960	McDonnell	McDonnell F-3H-?? Demon				LTJG P. M. Reiter ejected at 3000 ft 150 kt		McDonnell Seat
9th February 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LTJG A. V. Miller ejected at 2000 ft 150 kt		Martin-Baker
26th February 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3H Demon		VF114 deployed on the USS Hancock (CVA-19)	flamed out on launch went into the water Over water	LTJG R. S. Gale ejected on impact with water serious injuries - rescued by helo		Martin-Baker
3rd March 1960	USN	McDonnell F3H-2N Demon	145265 "NL" Switchbox '5'"	VF-151 NAS Moffett		LTJG Allan "Andy" G. Anderson ejected at 15-20,000 ft 300 kt	via Allan Anderson	McDonnell Seat
					Click on above red cross
					Had a windscreen blow out. After the pilot ejected the "bird" landed alongside U.S. 101. about 80 miles south of Moffett, 5 miles south of Gilroy Calif.
	Further details extracted from correspondence on the Demon Drivers Forum
16th June 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3H Demon		VF-31	Night operation. Carrier Controlled Approach [CCA] Aircraft disappeared about 6 miles away from carrier	LTJG Charley Harper lost. Never found
13th July 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LTJG W. D. Craig ejected at 1000 ft 140 kt		McDonnell Seat
22nd July 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LTJG Mike J. Ettel ejected thru canopy at 9500 ft 180 kt injuries sustained		McDonnell Seat
25th July 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over water	LCDR Gilbert J. Kirk ejected at 1300 ft 175-180 kt rescued by helo		McDonnell Seat
11th August 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over water	LCDR R. F. Woodruff ejected at 3500 ft 240 kt		McDonnell Seat
20th September 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over land	LTJG E. J. Murphy ejected at 20,000 ft 150 kt
24th September 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over water	LT E. J. Thaubald ejected at 300 ft 120 kt		Martin-Baker
20th October 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	133595 "NH"	VF-114 USS Hancock		CDR E. W. Holloway ejected at 5-6000 ft 200-250 kt		Martin-Baker
21st October 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3HDemon		VF114 deployed on the USS Hancock (CVA-19)	flamed out on launch went into the water Over water	LT Robert "Bob" F. Constans ejected at zero feet rescued by helo killed		Martin-Baker
FEEDBACK	In 1960, Lts Gale and Constans were both killed when their F3H's flamed out on launch and they went into the drink. Gale's body was recovered, Constans' was lost at sea. I was there and they were both from my squadron VF114 deployed on the USS Hancock (CVA-19).
25th October 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LCDR L. E. Scheer ejected at 800 ft 180 kt		McDonnell Seat
27th October 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Engine problems. Tried to return to carrier shortly after launch	CAPT Clayton C. Snow USAF ejected at 800 ft 140 kt thru canopy		Martin-Baker
15th November 1960	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LTJG C. F. Parker ejected at 2000 ft Lost presumed drowned		McDonnell Seat
30jan61	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133621	VF-101 Cherry Point
24th February 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LT F. A. Grant Jr. ejected at 8000 ft 200 kt thru canopy ?? rescued by helo after 45 minutes		Martin-Baker
1st May 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			over water	LCDR R. M. Hamilton ejected at 600 ft 120 kt		Martin-Baker
16th June 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LCDR C. E. "Smiley" Dorris ejected at 2500 ft 200 kt		Martin-Baker
30th June 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133561 "NE"	VF-21 USS Midway	Low fuel approach, porpoised while attempting to land at NAS Atsugi, Japan	LTJG Robert "Bob" J. Hendershott Jr. ejected at low level - landed in seat - died of injuries		Martin-Baker
30th June 1961	Ltjg. Robert G. Hendershott ejected from a VF-21 F3H Demon July 1, 1961 while attempting to land at NAS Atsugi, Japan. He panicked while making a low fuel approach and got into a nasty porpoise. Even though he was in a Martin-Baker seat, the ejection was unsuccessful most probably due to his attempt coming as the aircraft was about to strike the runway on a down cycle. in email 25th November 2007
7th July 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3H Demon		VF-92 NAS Alameda	San Francisco Bay	LTJG Jack D. Bishop ejected at 1000 ft 140 kt		Martin-Baker
FEEDBACK	Jack took off from the westerly heading runway at NAS Alameda and turned left down San Francisco Bay. A baseball announcer at Candlestick Park in southern San Francisco told the fans that an aircraft was on fire over the bay, so hundreds saw the ejection. Jack pulled his feet back as the Flight Manual instructed but got a few crushed vertebrae -- because the Manual was out-of-date. Later we got an updated Manual which said to leave your feet on the rudder pedals. Zeke Wilson Cdr USN Ret I was the VF-92 Squadron Safety Officer investigating this accident -- Turbine Failure. in email 20th November 2007
	Hello! Here is an event I witnessed as a youth Thanks, Robert Tilley Hi Bob... You are the lucky one tonight - Most of the other e-mails have lacked specifics, but I think the accident of which you speak happened on July 6th, 1961... Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Jack Bishop, age 26 and of the Navy's 92nd Fighter Squadron, had just taken off NAS Alameda when the tower radioed to him, "You're on fire!". Instead of instantly bailing out, he turned his plane to the left, and directed it into the bay, and then bailed out of his F-3H "Demon". Had he not turn his craft towards the water, the jet would have likely impacted into downtown San Francisco. Many of the 15,000 baseball fans at Candlestick Park witnessed the pilot's ejection, only seconds before it hit the water. Lt. Bishop survived unharmed from the accident, and was publicly commended by the Navy from his brave actions - According to a spokesman - "He stayed with his plane longer than necessary—he stayed to the very last possible second, He wanted to be certain, and he was. It took a lot of courage." Two days later, another naval jet crashed near Oakland Airport, killing one pilot, while the other aboard ejected to safety. Hope this answers your question.. Best Regards, Christopher Freeze www.Check-Six.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Robert tilley To: info@check-six.com Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 8:04 PM Subject: Bay Area crash lead Hello! My parents brought me to San Francisco in 1950, when I was six months old. We lived on Upper Market St. One day, in the mid to late 1950's, I was outside playing and looking east toward the bay, I witnessed a small airplane go into a dive, and disappear behind Portrero Hill. Then a column of black smoke started ascending. I ran in the house and told my mother that a plane had just crashed. She asked how big, and I told her it was a small airplane. Later we heard either on the radio or the television that it was a U.S. Navy jet, and the pilot had ejected before the jet crashed in the bay. Do you have further information on this event? Thank You. Bob Robert Tilley in email 25th January 2009
12th July 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3H Demon				LCDR Dave C. Wylie ejected at 3 - 500 ft 140 kt Body found in water later		Martin-Baker
10th August 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133585 "NE"	VF-21 USS Midway	Engine failure just after cat launch. Crashed off the coast of Japan	LCDR Hank L Halleland ejected at 2-300 ft 165 kt thru canopy rescued by helo back injury -		Martin-Baker
16th August 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LCDR Stan G. Cooper at 1000 ft 180 kt thru canopy injured striking canopy		Martin-Baker
12th October 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				CDR W. F. "Mac" McCullough ejected at 1000 ft 150 kt		Martin-Baker
17th November 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LT Robert "Bob" J. Wuebler ejected at 1000 ft 150 kt injured		Martin-Baker
22nd November 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	buno: 143483	VF-31	Overland. The pilot landed just outside the walls of the Raford Prison in FL	LTJG Kenneth R. Toby ejected at 1000 ft 150 kt landed flat on back - injured		Martin-Baker
25th November 1961	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over water	LTJG W. Logan ejected at 65 ft 80 kt rescued by destroyer		Martin-Baker
26th December 1961	USMC	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over water	MAJ C. H. Ludden ejected at 2000 ft 190 kt rescued by helo		Martin-Baker
9th January 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon		VF-41	Over land	LCDR Nelson Sabin ejected at 5000 ft 240 kt rescued by helo		Martin-Baker
15th February 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over land	LT M. W. Wakeland ejected at 1000 ft 200 kt dragged - injured		Martin-Baker

	had been looking at the ejection web sight a week of two before it was posted here. I am aware of some Demon and Phantom loses that are not there yet. I am researching now for the names. As for the Demons in VF-151 we lost two on the '61-'62 cruise, both night ejections and pilots were recovered. One was at that time LTJG Guy Freeborn, who went on to Phantoms and downed one mig in Vietnam. The other I would like to verify before naming. He has posted on this site in the past but, I have not seen anything in about the last two years. Mr Harry Milner was with us on part or all of the '63 Cruise when we lost LCDR Floyd Cox. By the way It has taken me nearly three years, but he has finally been posted in the Navy Memorial Foundation as lost at sea. I don't remember any other loses in those cruises. We did have a LT A.G. Anderson with us on the '61-'62 cruise. Also was LT JG Gene Hakanson, who became CO of NAS Miramar in the late 70's or early 80's. Sadly, I heard he passed on shortly thereafter. For all the above I do not have dates except for LCDR Cox. I will send this info to the ejection web site when I have the rest of the data.
23rd February 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133574	VF-151 USS Coral Sea CVA-43	Over water	LT J. T. Kneeshaw ejected at 800 ft 160 kt rescued by whaleboat after 50 minutes		Martin-Baker
3rd March 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	133614	VF-101 Cherry Point	In harbour	LT H. V.Spade ejected at 800 ft 150 kt thru canopy injured rescued by fishing boat		Martin-Baker
7th March 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	137015	VF-101 Cherry Point	Over water	LTJG D. G. M Klein ejected at 11000 ft 170 kt		Martin-Baker
22nd March 1962 [1st ejection]	USN	McDonnell F-3H-2N Demon	133572 "AE"	VF-131 USS Constellation	Over water	ENS I. Gale Lane ejected 4500 ft 280 kt picked up by destroyer after 30 minutes SEE ALSO 1st May 1963		Martin-Baker
13th April 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over water	LCDR J. M. Dowling ejected at 300 ft 120 kt injured rescued by helo		Martin-Baker
28th April 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon		VF-151 USS Coral Sea CVA-43		LTJG Guy H. Freeborn ejected at 9000 ft 150 kt struck canopy - injured - recued by destroyer USS Duncan DDR 874 after 30 minutes LINK		Martin-Baker
FEEDBACK	Allan Anderson recalls the event Our call sign was Switchbox. One night I was on the catapult and had just turned my lights on (a night salute) when Freeborn called “any Switchbox aircraft” I answered and he said that he had a total electrical failure. I ask if he had checked his oil pressure. He informed all on freq. that he had zero oil pressure. Engine oil ran the Sundstrand units that powered the electrical generators. There was no reason for me to respond. It was obvious that he would have to eject. On 10th August 1967 an F-4 from VF-142 from USS Constellation CVA-64 flown by Freeborn and ENS Robert J. Elliot became the second Navy crew to shoot down a MIG-21 in Vietnam. The Sparrow did not work but the Sidewinder did. {note: On 9th October 1966 CDR Richard M. Bellinger flying an F-8 Crusader of VF-162 from CVA-34 shot down the Navy's first MiG-21]
19th July 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon				LTJG John Connor ejected at 750 ft 150 kt thru canopy		Martin-Baker
22nd July 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			Over water	CDR Joe F. Bolger Jr. ejected at 10 - 20 ft 120 kt thru canopy rescued by helo		Martin-Baker
17th August 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			?????	LT D. B. Williams ejected at 50 ft 200 kt injured on landing		Martin-Baker
17th August 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			?????	carried by a village natives. later picked up by helo
12th November 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon			over water	LT C. N. Eley ejected at 1200 ft 170 kt injured picked up by destroyer		Martin-Baker
27th December 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	145286	VF-14 USS Frankiln D. Roosevelt CVA-42		LTJG J. C. Williams no ejection killed Body not recovered
FEEDBACK	THE DEC 27 LOSS WAS LTJG J.C. WILLIAMS AGAIN THE FDR CVA 42 VF 14 NIGHT CAT SHOT WHICH APPEARED NORMAL IN THE ADRIATIC IN THE NAPLES AREA NO HORIZON THE A/C FLEW INTO THE WATER A FEW MILES AHEAD OF THE SHIP NO COMMUNICATION VERTIGO? CAUSE UNKNOWN A HELMET WAS RECOVERED NO EJECTION BOTH WERE CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS HOPE THIS ADDS SOMETHING TO YOUR PROJECT REGARDS FROM AN OLD TOP HATTER in email 30th November 2007
Tuesday 5th February 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	146733	NAS Miramar	over land	LTCDR S. T. Zink ejected at 350 ft 145 kt injured		Martin-Baker
Wednesday 20th March 1963	USN photo
Wednesday 20th March 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	145281	VF-14 USS Frankiln D. Roosevelt CVA-42	Aircraft went over the bow - Circumstances ??????	LTJG Joseph Janiak, Jr. no ejection killed Body not recovered
FEEDBACK	Attached is a picture of Joe Janiak taken from the 1962-63 Cruise Book of the FDR. My understanding is the hold back broke prematurely after he selected afterburner and before the cat fired. He was unable to stop the aircraft before it went over the side. Joe was killed in this accident. I don.'t know if he ejected or not. The accident happened a few months after I left the squadron (VF-14). Hope this helps. Paul Hilaire in email 30th November 2007
FEEDBACK	AS I RECALL THE HOLDBACK BROKE ON A DAY CAT SHOT A/C UNABLE TO STOP AND WENT OVER THE BOW NO EJECTION JOE WAS A TOPHATTER VF 14 in email 30th November 2007
Thursday 11th April 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	146710	DBR	North Island	Damaged
Wednesday 1st May 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	143417	VF-13 Cecil Field	Over water	LTJG I. Gale Lane thru canopy rescued by helo SEE ALSO 22nd March 1962		Martin-Baker Mk.5A
Monday 20th May 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	143481 "AC"	VF-31 USS Saratoga	Damaged
Sunday 30th June 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	145230 "NL"	VF-151 USS Coral Sea	Engine seizure, Heavy rain, rough seas	LT Floyd E. Cox ejected lost at sea		Martin-Baker Mk.5B
Friday 12th July 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	146732	VF-161 USS Oriskany
Thursday 15th August 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	143476 "AC"	VF-31 USS Saratoga	Crashed onto the carrier deck in the Mediterranean Sea. Several aircraft destroyed and 2 killed and 9 injured
Thursday 15th August 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	146716 "AC"	VF-31 USS Saratoga	Destroyed on deck
Friday 27th September 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	145267 "AH"	VF-161 USS Oriskany		LTJG A. L. Uner	?????	Martin-Baker
Monday 28th October 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	145236	Cherry Point		Damaged
Wednesday 20th November 1963	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	146328 "NL"	VF-151	Crashed Alameda
Wednesday 4th March 1964	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	145242	VF-13	Shortly after cat launch. Crashed into the Mediterranean Sea	LTJG Jim Reid killed		Martin-Baker
Wednesday 4th March 1964	The Demon ejection, VF-13, buno 145242, spring 1964 must have been the fatal accident of LTJG Jim Reid. It happened on a Med cruise, on a catapult shot. From the altitude and attitude of the ejection, it appeared it might have been survivable, but when the helo recovered Jim in just a few minutes, aft of the ship, he was dead. From Tom Wimberly I was a LCDR at the time; squadron Operations Officer in email 24th November 2007
Wednesday 22nd April 1964	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon	143449	VF-13 USS Shangri-La	Over Water	LTJG Harry E. Henning ejected at 10,000 ft 230 kt		Not shown in M-B lists was seat therefore a McDonnell ??
Wednesday 22nd April 1964	Re the VF-13 Demon ejection, pilot Harry Henning in the spring of 1964 I think. It was a bad night in the Med and Harry was having trouble getting a trap. When he hit bingo fuel, I was in Air Ops and so was the squadron CO. The CO stated clearly, "Bingo him." The officer running the show heard the recommendation, but elected to let Harry continue. After another bolter or two, the CO said, "Tank him." The attempt to tank was unsuccessful. It was conducted with the A-4 tanker flying straight ahead of the ship. When Harry finally got plugged in, they were 12 or so miles ahead of the ship, and no fuel would transfer. The tanker had slowed to 200 knots or so to avoid flying so far ahead of the ship. It turns out the tanker store won't function properly at that slow a speed. When it was concluded that Harry was not going to get any fuel, he headed back to the ship and reported 300 pounds of fuel. The CO said, "Tell him to climb and eject, tell him to climb and eject." The instructions were given and Harry was able to get close to the ship with plenty of altitude before the engine flamed out. This is to the best of my recollection. Tom Wimberly, CAPT USN Ret, squadron Ops Officer VF-13 at the time. in email 24th November 2007
Wednesday 27th May 1964	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon	145243	VF-13 Jacksonville
	USN	McDonnell F-3B Demon
TO RESEARCH - Found in Forum and Web Site Guest Books

?? ?? 1962	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon		VF-21 USS Midway (NEEDS CONFIRMATION)	Night Flight Ramp strike	Lt. George Clark ejection mechanism failed
						William "Bill" Kozel		McDonnell
3rd May 1962 CONFIRM ???		F4H-1			engine fire	CDR M. M. Casey Jr. ejected injured	Is this the person mentioned in the emails	Martin-Baker
Date needed	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon		USS Midway	Flameout passing through bad weather [see FEEDBACK below]	Bergevin killed no ejection
Date needed	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon		USS Midway		Brender killed no ejection
Date needed	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon		USS Midway		??? killed no ejection
{next day]Date needed	USN	McDonnell F-3 Demon		USS Midway	Flameout Ditched in sea Iwakuni	LT John Tibbs Blew canopy and swam from aircraft
FEEDBACK	". . . . the Midway was going to go into port in Yokosuka, Japan, The Air Wing flew off the day before to Atsugi Naval Air Station. During the flyoff, three of the Demons suffered flameouts passing thru bad weather and crashed at sea, killing all three pilots. the rest of the Demons made an emergency landing at Iwakuni due to weather. The next morning they were going to fly to Atsugi. Tibbs was first off, and had just gotten airborne when his plane flamed out. being way too low to eject, he ditched it in the bay. He said it sank almost immediately, he un-strapped, blew the canopy and swam out. All the rest of the planes were grounded at Iwakuni. They pulled his plane out of the bay, removed the engine and inspected it. They discovered that the compressor case was shrinking in cold weather and binding the compressor blades, effectively stalling the engine. Brender and Bergevin were two of the pilots killed on the flyoff, I don't remember the third, but Winchester would know. The midair between Winchester and Ralston was with the first two "up" birds after having their engines pulled and modified. " Bill English
FEEDBACK	Responding to your request for information . . . I thought I would pass on, for what it's worth, a report of an ejection perhaps not on your web site. . . . .I was the one who "landed" the Demon at Nice in May 1960 ---- but I only know for sure that afterward it was sealed up and barged back to the states. "Bravo" damage in the criteria of the times. However, some years later I was told by a friend that when the Navy was creating more Air Groups "my" particular Demon was put through Overhaul at MCAS Cherry Point, NC, and on its very first test flight the engine failed and the USMC test pilot ejected over Chesapeake Bay. (MCAS Overhaul and Repair refurbished Demons, and USMC enlisted pilots flew the first test flights before we went up to retrieve them.) I have no way of knowing if they are one and the same Demons --- mine was Buno 145291 --- or who would know these 40+ years later. My guess is that while the aircraft was destined for some east coast squadron, it would not yet have been formally assigned to one. Trust that helps, and hopefully not confuses. Again, great site. Bob Fair, VF-14 A Postscript: I was astounded to see just how many ejections there were while the Demon was in the Fleet. My perspective is obviously very limited, but it seems that a number even a fraction of that today would have our Congress investigating and screaming for explanations, and the Navy "standing down" to regroup. Yet those numbers apparently were acceptable at the time. Add the non-ejection accidents and the numbers become even more remarkable. in email 1st December 2007
FEEDBACK	ANYONE WHO CAN ADD INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BuNo 145291 PLEASE CONTACT mbenshar@aol.com

Ejection Seats
A Martin-Baker Mk.5 Ejection seat being tested from a McDonnell F3 Demon Martin-Baker Ejection Seats were installed in BuNos 146709 - through to 146740 at the factory
	drawing Martin-Baker
	This Martin-Baker Mk.5 ejection seat was fitted to the Skyray but in most respects was similar to the seat fitted into the F3H Demon photo Martin-Baker

References & Acknowledgements to be added to and completed	Ralph "Skeeter" Carson
	Bill English
	Cdr. John Newlin, USN (Ret.)
	Tom Wimberly
	Kenneth Toby
	Leonard "Zeke" Wilson Cdr USN Ret zwilson@netzero.net VF-92 Paul Hilaire Bob Fair

	Click on the Logo to visit the "Demon Drivers" Website and Forums [logo used with the permission of the Demon Drivers web author]
	New York Times - Demon Drivers Forum & Web Site Sir James Martin - The authorised biography of the Martin-Baker ejection seat pioneer by Sarah Sharman Martin-Baker Aircrfat Company - photos and images Eject Eject by Bryan Philpott The Tailhook Association USN - Early USN Ejections and Bailouts- via FOIA Air Force Times Approach Magazine USN Times USMC Times Various Issues of - The Aeroplane; Flight International Strikes - US Naval and Marine Corps Aviation Attrition 1962 - 1985 US Military Aircraft Mishaps 1950 - 2004 by Jan van Waarde - Scramble Dutch Aviation Society
NOTES (To myself)	Re-Check old copies of THE HOOK, APPROACH, etc

http://www.10news.com/news/16947691/detail.html

ALPINE, Calif. -- Over 50 years ago, Navy pilot Ralph "Skeeter" Carson crashed his jet in the mountains of East County.

Carson recently returned to the scene in Alpine where he had ditched his jet to see the wreckage for the very first time.

"I can't believe it's that long ago, that it should be in the Historical Society," said Carson.

Carson crashed his McDonnell F3H Demon fighter jet into the hills of Alpine. Carson said he had problems with instruments and the fog during his night flight helped make his decision to eject.

"Without knowing whether I was right-side up or upside down, it was time to go," said Carson.

Until now, Carson had never seen the crash site.

Local hiker Dennis Richardson found the crash site one day and then sought Carson.

"From the time I was a kid, I thought people died in airplane crashes. I never thought you (Carson) would be alive," said Richardson.

"People started sending me pictures, and I thought, 'Oh! That's pretty neat," said Carson.

Carson came all the way from Florida to see the crash site for himself.

The long hike up the steep mountainside took its toll on the 79-year-old Carson.

Once they arrived, Carson's partners looked over the site. Carson was looking at a gift from the property owner.

"It's the tailhook to the airplane. Rudy is giving it to us," said Carson.

That was enough to make this trip worth it.

"At my age, this is probably the last time I'll be here. So it's been fun," said Carson.

Page last updated
Saturday, 06 June 2009 20:18