2005

<<< 1971

The Year 1972

1973 >>>

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
1st January 1972	???							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
10th January 1972	RN	F-4 Phantom FG1	XT876 VL160	767 Sqn	Crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Trevose Head, Cornwal			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
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	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
20th January 1972	USAF	RF‑4C	68‑0573 OZ	14th TRS/432nd TRW	hit by AAA 15 M S of Ban Ban Valley, Laos	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
24th January 1972	USN	F-4 Phantom				Lt. C. A. Clebaugh		Martin-Baker
31st January 1972	USAF	F-4 Phantom				Capt. O. J. Davis		Martin-Baker
31st January 1972	USAF	F-4 Phantom				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
1st February 1972	USAF	F‑4D Phantom II	66‑8703 OC	13th TFS/432nd TRW, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand	during take‑off	Pilot Paul Bast ejected too late killed	WSO Capt. Lester O'Brien ejected [2nd ejection]	Martin-Baker
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
10th February 1972	USAF	F-4 Phantom	66-371 "SEAFOX" JJ	34th TFS/388th TFW Korat		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
13th February 1972	USAF	F‑4D	66‑8741 FO	435th TFS/8th TFW	hydraulic failure			Martin-Baker
14th February 1972	USAF	F-4 Phantom				1.Lt. J.F.McCarthy		Martin-Baker
14th February 1972	USAF	F-4 Phantom				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
14th February 1972	RAF	Phantom FGR2	XT913	228 OCU		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
17th February 1972	USAF	F‑4D		432nd TRW		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
17th February 1972	USAF	F‑105B	63‑8333 JB	17th WWS/388th TFW		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
18th February 1972	USN	F‑4J Phantom II	157266 NG 207	VF‑92 USS CONSTELLATION		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
3rd March 1972	Can	CF-100				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
3rd March 1972	USN	F-4B Phantom II	150417 NIL 1	VF‑51 USS Coral Sea	Control failure during BARCAP mission in SEA	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
11th March 1972	USAF	F-4 Phantom				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
12th March 1972	USAF	F-105G	63-8327 JB	17th WWS 388th TFW Korat RTAFB, Thailand	45nm S. of Korat RTAFB	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
18th March 1972	USAF	OV‑10A	68‑3823	23rd TASS/56th SOW	hit by AAA and caught fire, 10 M E of Pakse, Laos	Maj, Steve Boresky ejected and rescued by USAF HH‑53C	1^st 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
23rd March 1972	USN	F-4 Phantom				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
2nd May 1972	USN	A-6D	152597 NF 5	VA‑115 CVW‑2 USS Midway CVA-41		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