<<< 1971

The Year 1972

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7.8.72 Lightning Mk 3 29 Sqdn XP700 - Flt Lt George Fenton took off but raised the undercarriage before flying speed was reached, A/C sank onto ventral tank and caught fire - he flew straight ahead gaining height and when over open country was advised by tower to eject which he did safely. ( Your note about him attempting an emergency landing is incorrect.). I was watching from the line hut.
 
7.12.72  (?) Canberra crashed at Wattisham attempting an assymetric landing. Crew of 3 were killed
 
Hope this is of interest
Regards
Peter Hindley

 

 

   January  

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
1st January 1972 ???             Martin-Baker
    Martin-Baker
1st January 1972 ????             Martin-Baker
3rd January 1972 USMC  F-8K Crusader BuNo. 146953 VMFA-321
NAF Washington DC Marine Reserves
  Capt. R. R. Nevitte   Martin-Baker
8th January 1972   FB‑111A 68‑0283
GD
  N shore of Lake Ponchatrain, Manderville, LA, USA crew ejected but was killed   McDonnell Escape Capsule
10th January 1972 RN F-4 Phantom FG1 XT876
VL160
767 Sqn Crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Trevose Head,
Cornwal
Lt. C. OConnor   Martin-Baker
    Martin-Baker
18th January 1972 USN A‑7E 156880
NIL 401
VA‑94 USS Coral Sea starboard main landing gear collapsed during launch from carrier in Gulf of Tonkin off NVN pilot ejected safely and was rescued   Douglas Escapac
19th January 1972 RAF Gnat T1 XR996 CFS Compressor failure. Crashed near Pershore Pilot ejected   Folland Ejection Seat
20th January 1972 USAF F‑4E 67‑0247
LC
 421st TFS/366th TFW hit by 23mm AAA and caught fire 20 M W of Khe Sanh, SVN Pilot ejected and rescued by US Army helicopter   Martin-Baker
GIB ejected and rescued by US Army helicopter   Martin-Baker
20th January 1972 USAF RF‑4C 68‑0573
OZ
 14th TRS/432nd TRW hit by AAA 15 M S of Ban Ban Valley, Laos Pilot ejected   Martin-Baker
GIB ejected   Martin-Baker
20th January 1972

USAF 

F-4 Phantom

WHICH CREW WERE IN THE ABOVE AIRCRAFT ??

Major R. K. Mock   Martin-Baker
1.Lt. J.L. Stiles   Martin-Baker
22nd January 1972   A‑7E 756849
NG 3
VA‑146 Engine failure during strike mission SEA pilot ejected and was rescued   Martin-Baker
24th January 1972 USN  F-4 Phantom        Lt.JG S.Davis   Martin-Baker
Lt. C. A. Clebaugh   Martin-Baker
31st January 1972 USAF F-4 Phantom       Capt. O. J. Davis      Martin-Baker
Capt. R. K. Venables   Martin-Baker

   February 

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
1st February 1972 USAF F‑4D Phantom II 66‑8703
OC
13th TFS/432nd TRW, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand during take‑off
           photo via Kristi Bast
  Martin-Baker
Pilot Paul Bast ejected too late killed WSO Capt. Lester O'Brien ejected
[2nd ejection]
2nd February 1972 USAF F‑105B 63‑8284
JB
17th WWS/388th TFW, engine problems crashed during take‑off end of runway 24, Karat RTAFB, Thailand  pilot killed,WS01 OK

check for ejection ???

   
10th February 1972 USAF F-4 Phantom 66-371
"SEAFOX"
JJ
34th TFS/388th TFW Korat On Tiger FAC - ground fire 5 M NE of Muang Fangdeng, Laos southern Laos   Martin-Baker
1st Lt. Tom W. Dobson ejected rescued by HH‑53C Captain John S. Murphy ejected - rescued by HH‑53C
see also 8th June 1972 = POW
Martin-Baker
11th February 1972 GerAF  F-104        O.Lt. R. Diederichs   Martin-Baker
13th February 1972 USAF F‑4D 66‑8741
FO
435th TFS/8th TFW hydraulic failure     Martin-Baker
    Martin-Baker
14th February 1972 USAF  F-4 Phantom       1.Lt. J.F.McCarthy   Martin-Baker
Capt. G.Profitt   Martin-Baker
14th February 1972 RAF Phantom FGR2 XT913 228 OCU Hydraulic failure. Crashed into the North Sea one mile north of
Happisburgh, Norfolk
Flt. Lt. P. L. Preston   Martin-Baker
Flg. Off. J. Stone   Martin-Baker
16th February 1972 RAF  Lightning F3 XP747 29 Sqn mid-air-collision with Lightning  .F3 XP698  [Flt. Lt "Chile" Cooper killed.] Crashed 60nm East Harwich Flt. Lt. Paul Reynolds   Martin-Baker
16th February 1972 USAF  F‑4D  66‑7601 FA 25th TFS/8th TFW hit by SA‑2 SAM over DMZ c20 M SE of Dong Hoi, NVN flew to the coast
Capt. W. R. Schwertfeger ejected POW

1.Lt. R. Galati ejected POW
Martin-Baker 
17th February 1972 GerAF  F-104        O.Lt. W.Boehm    

17th February 1972


USAF
F-105G Thunderchief       Mr. Kenneth J. Fraser  
17th February 1972
USAF
F-105G Thunderchief       Maj James D. Cutter  
17th February 1972 USAF F‑4D   432nd TRW

hit by ground fire during rescue mission for downed F‑105B nr Xom Quan Cat, 15 miles west of the
city of Vinh in Quang Binh Province

    Martin-Baker
pilot Major Robert H. Irwin, pilot MIA WSO Capt. E. Hawley POW Martin-Baker
17th February 1972 USAF F‑105B 63‑8333
JB
17th WWS/388th TFW

hit by SAM nr Xom

        Quan Cat, 13 M N of DMZ,  flew out to sea. Crashed in sea 25 M SE of Dong Hoi, 4 M off the coast of NVN

 
    Republic
ejected POW ejected POW Republic
18th February 1972 USN F‑4J Phantom II 157266
NG 207
VF‑92
USS CONSTELLATION

hit by AAA during pull‑up from attack run in southern Laos. Hydraulics failed on approach to carrier Gulf of Tonkin 75 M NE of DMZ, NVN

    Martin-Baker

pilot LT Bruce Phillip Rowe killed

RIO Lt.JG D. L. Spence ejected and rescued Martin-Baker
21st February 1972  Classified             Martin-Baker

   March

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
1st March 1972   Grumman OV-1B Mohawk 62-05900   Aircraft lost power
on both engines. Crashed in Georgia, USA
     
2nd March 1972   OV‑10A 67‑14658 20th TASS/504th TASG Hit by AAA while directing air strike, 15 M N of Saravan, Laos

pilot ejected and was rescued

 

  LW-3
3rd March 1972 Can CF-100       ejected   Martin-Baker
ejected   Martin-Baker
3rd March 1972 USN F-4B
Phantom II
150417
NIL 1
VF‑51
USS Coral Sea

Control failure during BARCAP mission in SEA

Lt. K. T. Moore ejected and rescued   Martin-Baker
Lt. G. H. Westfall ejected and rescued   Martin-Baker
3rd March 1972 USN F-8K Crusader BuNo. 146933 NAS Atlanta Marine Reserves. location ?? MAJ W.E.Conder   Martin-Baker
8th March 1972 GerAF  F-104        HPT K. Kegel   Martin-Baker
8th March 1972 USN A‑4F Skyhawk 154205
NP 502
VA‑55 hit by AAA Tried to make Da Nang but lost control 12 M NW of Da Nang, SVN

 pilot ejected safely and rescued by USAF helicopter

  Douglas
11th March 1972 USAF  F-4 Phantom       Capt. D. D. Thomssen   Martin-Baker
Capt. R. L. Privett   Martin-Baker
12th March 1972
USAF 
F-105G 63-8327
JB
17th WWS 388th TFW Korat RTAFB, Thailand 45nm S. of Korat RTAFB     Weber
Pilot:  Capt James VerStreate ejected - major injuries upon landing Bear:  Major Harold Stoll ejected - major injuries upon landing Weber
14th March 1972 RAF Gnat T.1 XR948/48 4 TFS engine failure. Crashed  near Llanbedr, Merioneth,
Wales
The pilot ejected safely   Folland
16th March 1972 GerAF F-104        HPT W.Seifert   Martin-Baker
18th March 1972   A-1J Skyraider 142063     Capt. Michael J. Faas   YANKEE extraction
18th March 1972 USAF OV‑10A 68‑3823 23rd TASS/56th SOW hit by AAA and caught fire, 10 M E of Pakse, Laos

LW-3

Maj, Steve Boresky ejected and rescued by USAF HH‑53C

1st lieutenant David Breskman ejected and rescued by USAF HH‑53C LW-3
19th March 1972   A‑7E 157529
NH 3
VA‑192

engine vibrated and failed during climb‑out following launch. Pilot turned around and glided back to carrier, Gulf of Tonkin off NVN

pilot ejected safely and rescued by helicopter   Escapac
23rd March 1972 USN F-4 Phantom       Lt.Jg D. P. Curry   Martin-Baker
Cdr. E. J. Hickey   Martin-Baker
23rd March 1972   A‑7E 157520
NH 307
VA‑192 Oil pressure failed and engine quit W of Phuoc My on SVN/Laos border, inside Laos pilot ejected but parachute did not deploy and he was killed   Escapac
28th March 1972 Belg Mirage       Lt. G. Fonteyne   Martin-Baker
30th March 1972 USMC  F-4 Phantom       l.Lt. J. W. Vandervolt   Martin-Baker
March 1972                

23mar72    137622  A‑1 H  TC  1st SOS/56th SOW, Thailand, engine failure, pilot survived - YANKEE ????

 

 

 April  

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
Easter Sunday
2nd April 1972

USAF
EB-66C
Bat
21
54-0466 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS),
Korat A. B.,
Thailand
SAM hit

One mile from bridge at Cam Lo

    Douglas
         
Maj. Wayne L. Bolte - Pilot (KIA) Ltc. Iceal Hambleton - Navigator
"Bat 21 Bravo"
Rescued
Ltc. Charles A. Levis - EWO (KIA) Ltc. Anthony R. Giannangeli - EWO (KIA) Maj. Henry M. Serex - EWO (MIA / KIA) 1/Lt Robin F. Gatwood - EWO (KIA)
3rd April 1972
USAF
OV10A     Bat 21 Rescue Mr. William J. Henderson Martin-Baker
7th April 1972
USAF
OV-10     Bat 21 Rescue     LW-3
Air Force First Lieutenant Bruce Walker

initial radio contact before he began his escape and evasion effort.

Marine Corps First Lieutenant Larry Potts

There were reports that Lieutenant Potts died in captivity

8th April 1972 USN Intruder           Martin-Baker
Lt. J.A. Kelly Lt.JG H.Wurtzbacher Martin-Baker
9th April 1972 USMC A-6A Intruder
BENGAL 505
BuNo 155652
505
VMA(AW)-224
from CVA-43 "USS Coral Sea
Hit by SAM. Laod Major Clyde D. Smith   Martin-Baker
  USMC A-6A Intruder BuNo 155652 side number 505, callsign BENGAL 505 of VMA(AW)-224
from CVA-43 "USS Coral Sea" flown into Laos by pilot Major Clyde D. Smith on a mission
against the Ho Chi Minh Trail as part of build up to Operation "Linebacker". Hit by SAM. The
bombardier-navigator was killed and Smith ejected. His parachute was seen by the North
Vietnamese who expected to capture him. Anticipating the rescue the N.V. moved in. When initial
attempts at rescue failed they tried to lure in other US aircraft. Smith rescued four days after
ejection.
 
9th April 1972 USAF F-4 Phantom           Martin-Baker
Capt. W. Banks Capt. M. Jacobs Martin-Baker
14th April 1972 USN Cougar       Lt.JG D.E.Koerner   Martin-Baker
15th April 1972
USAF
F-4C Phantom II 66-0324 421 TFS, 366 TFW, Da Nang VN Martin-Baker
Lt Col Gale A. DeSpiegler
POW
1Lt. Larry A. Trimble
No evidence of ejection
MIA
16th April 1972 USAF F-4 Phantom           Martin-Baker
1.Lt. V. Parkhurst 1.Lt. M. De-Long Martin-Bake
18th April 1972 Fr AF Mirage       Sgt. Scherrer   Martin-Baker
18th April 1972 USN F-8J Crusader BuNo. 150883 VF-191  in US. Lt. R.P.McKinster   Martin-Baker
18th April 1972 USN   Cougar     ENS M.Granberry   Martin-Baker
19th April 1972 USN F-4 Phantom           Martin-Baker
Lt.JG Timmester Lt. B. L. Cooper Martin-Baker
20th April 1972 USAF F-4 Phantom           Martin-Baker
Major Edward K. Elias 1.Lt. Ernest S. Clark Martin-Baker
21st April 1972 USAF F-4 Phantom       ejected   Martin-Baker
ejected   Martin-Baker
23rd April 1972 USAF F-4 Phantom           Martin-Baker
MAJ C.E.Hall Lt. L.R.Boughner Martin-Baker
24th April 1972 USAF   F-4 Phantom     2.Lt. S.W.Hall   Martin-Baker
26th April 1972


RAF
Harrier GR1 XV749
K
1 Sqn Bird strike. Crashed into the North Sea one mile of Lincolnshire coast,
near Theddlethorpe
Flt. Lt. J. Marshall   Martin-Baker
27th April 1972 RAAF Mirage A3-74 77 Sqn Multiple birdstrike causing engine failure. Crashed 11 miles from Darwin, Northern Territory Flt. Lt. R. L. Perry ejected at 900ft.,
200m.p.h. with aircraft descendind slightly in 5 degree left bank. Used seat pan handle and retained
PSP. Landed in tree and suspended by harness, received superficial injuries. Helicopter rescue
approx. 15 minutes later.
  Martin-Baker OM4. Parachute Mirage Horseshoe Pack
27th April 1972 USN F-4B Phantom II
NL-102
153025 VF-51
USS CORAL SEA
MiG Martin-Baker
Cdr James B. Souder
POW
Mr. Albert R. Molinare
POW
27th April 1972 USMC  F-4B Phantom II
VE-12
151472 VMFA-115 Collided with an O-1     Martin-Baker
Capt. Darryl F. Dziedzic ejected MAJ Thomas Knowles Duffy
KIA
Martin-Baker
28th April 1972 USAF F-4B Phantom           Martin-Baker
Capt. A. S. Arthur  Capt. M. C. Francisco Martin-Baker
28th April 1972 Ind N Sea Hawk       Lt. V.K.Bhatnagar   Martin-Baker

 May  

Date Air Force A'cft Unit / Serial based crashed crew photo seat
1st May 1972 USAF A‑1 H 134551
TC
1st SOS/56th SOW  Hit by SA‑7, engine caught fire. Gulf of Tonkin, 4 M off the coast nr Quang Tri, SVN

Pilot flew towards the sea and ejected and was rescued by Army helicopter

  YANKEE System
1st May 1972 USN A‑7E Corsair II 156888
NIL 401
VA‑94 Electrical systems damaged by SAM, Gulf of Tonkin NE of Deng Hoi, just oft the coast of NVN pilot ejected and was rescued by Navy HH‑3A   Escapac
2nd May 1972 USAF A‑1 G 133865
TC
1st SOS/56th SOW Hit by SA‑7 S of Quang Tri, SVN pilot ejected and rescued by Army helicopter   YANKEE System
2nd May 1972 USAF A‑1 E 135141
TC
1 st SOS'56th SOW hit by SA‑7. S of Ouang Tn. SVN

pilot ejected and rescued by Army helicopter

  YANKEE
2nd May 1972 USN A-6D 152597
NF 5
VA‑115
CVW‑2
USS Midway
CVA-41

Fire in the cockpit while on a tanker mission,    Gulf of Tonkin off NVN

    Martin-Baker
Lt. R. J. A. Bendel ejected safely and was rescued Lt. J. G. Howser ejected safely and was rescued Martin-Baker
3rd May 1972 RAF Harrier GR1 XV777 1Sqn During transition from hover to
forward flight. Crashed at Wittering, Cabs
    Martin-Baker
3rd May 1972
USAF
F‑4E Phantom II 69‑7221
SA
25 TFS, 8 TFW