2005

<<< 1975

The Year 1976

1977>>>

Aug 3 -- The Naval Air Systems Command reported a major advance in the technology of escape systems. During the summer, the NWC at China Lake successfully tested a vertical-seeking ejection seat. While carrying a dummy crew member, the seat was fired downward from a suspended test module. It traveled downward less than 45 feet before reversing direction and traveling upward; it then parachuted safely to the ground. These tests demonstrated that the vertical-seeking seat would make it possible to safely eject upside down, within 50 feet of the surface, thus greatly increasing the safety envelope of ejection seats.

January

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
3rd January 1976	USMC	F-4 Phantom				MAJ G. Lindgren		Martin-Baker
3rd January 1976	USMC	F-4 Phantom				1.Lt. E. J. Bozarth		Martin-Baker
7th January 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom				Capt. T. R. Brady		Martin-Baker
7th January 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom				1.Lt. R. M. Feeley		Martin-Baker
7th January 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom				F. C. Richardson		Martin-Baker
7th January 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom				2.Lt. C. T. Bradley		Martin-Baker
10th January 1976	USMC	Harrier				Capt. R. B. Pevey		Martin-Baker
11th May 1976	DDR	MiG‑21U	662618 271	JAG‑15	Heavy landing, Germany	Hptm Wolfgang Schonberg did he eject ???	did he survive	SK-1
11th May 1976	DDR	MiG‑21U	662618 271	JAG‑15	Heavy landing, Germany	OS Lutz Koppe ejected at low level fate ????		SK-1
15th January 1976	USN	TA‑4J Skyhawk	154617 NJ 600	VF‑126	crashed shortly after take‑offin Pacific oft San Diego, CA, USA	ejected safely and rescued		Escapac
15th January 1976	USN	TA‑4J Skyhawk	154617 NJ 600	VF‑126		ejected safely and rescued		Escapac
20th January 1976	USN	A‑7B Corsair II	154442 NM 310	VA‑153 USS Oriskany	struck ramp during landing, broke apart and went over the side	pilot ejected safely		Escapac
22nd January 1976	RAF	Hunter 7	XL579	ETPS Boscombe Down	FOD	Lt. Cdr. W. Honour (USN) ejected late but just within seat envelope		Martin-Baker
22nd January 1976	RAF	Hunter 7	XL579	ETPS Boscombe Down	FOD	Cdr. D. Kemp (USN) ejected late but just within seat envelop		Martin-Baker
23rd January 1976	DDR	MIG‑21 SPS	5515 933	3/JG‑1	Polen, Germany	Olt. Hartmut Thurm ejected		KM-1
26th January 1976	Braz					T. M. Antonio		Martin-Baker
28th January 1976	Sing	S.Mas				MAJ V. Koo		Martin-Baker
30th January 1976	GerAF	F-104				2.Lt. P. Hartman		Martin-Baker

February

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
3rd February 1976	Den	F-100				Lt. T. Johannesen		Martin-Baker
5th February 1976	RAF	Jaguar T2	XX137/A	226 OCU	Fuel leak. Crashed into Moray Firth	Flt. Lt. A.I. Aitken		Martin-Baker
						Flt. Lt. R. K. Jackson		Martin-Baker
5th February 1976	SAAF	Impala				Lt. M. Silberauer		Martin-Baker
						Cadet M.G. Russell		Martin-Baker
6th February 1976	GerAF	F-104				MAJ H. Fisch		Martin-Baker
						1.Lt. H. Lebegern		Martin-Baker
12th February 1976	USMC	F‑4N Phantom II	151480	VMFAT‑101	In flight explosion and fire in rear fuselage during bombing run. Yuma ranges. AZ, USA	2.Lt. R. G. Richardella		Martin-Baker
						Capt. G. D. Peterson		Martin-Baker
13th February 1976	RAF	Jet Provost T.4	XS211/72	3 FTS/SORF Leeming	Engine failed shortly after take-off. Crashed 2 miles north of the airfield	Flt. Lt. J. Hall		Martin-Baker
						Flt. Lt. Scott		Martin-Baker
15th February 1976	Classified	NFD						Martin-Baker
								Martin-Baker
15th February 1976	Sing	S.Mas						Martin-Baker
17th February 1976	USMC	A‑4E Skyhawk	150009	24 NFWS	Collided with F‑4J 150009 during ACM, crashed into Pacific off CA, USA	pilot ejected safely		Escapac
17th February 1976	USMC	F‑4J Phantom II	150009 DW 13	VMFA‑251	collided with A‑4E 150009 during ACM into Pacific off CA, USA
						pilot Captain George Ladd killed	RIO Capt. L. S. Strickland ejected	Martin-Baker
	Hi!, You list a February 17, 1976 pair of ejections arising out of a midair collision between a Navy A-4 and a Marine F-4J. The F-4 was from my squadron, VMFA-251 and the F-4 pilot who was killed was Captain George Ladd. George was killed outright by the collision impact and the front cockpit damage prevented the RIO initiated dual sequenced ejection from firing the front seat. The A-4 “Mongoose” belonged to the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TopGun) but I can’t remember the pilot’s name. Both aircraft crashed 19 miles south of Tacna, Arizona, not into the Pacific Ocean. I know because I was a member of the accident investigation board. Ironically, George Ladd was a member of the board that investigated my September 16, 1975 crash of an F-4J. Bob Dwyer Lt Col, USAF, retired (In 1979 I “defected” from the Marine Corps to the Air Force) in email 6th January 2007 note - Bob Dwyer ejected from USMC F‑4J Phantom II 153888 on 16th September 1975
19th February 1976	USN	F-4 Phantom				Lt.JG J. P. Perkins		Martin-Baker
						ENS G. E. Crawford		Martin-Baker
25th February 1976	Den	F-100				Lt. P. Schive		Martin-Baker
						Lt. N. Fredskild		Martin-Baker
24th February 1976	GerAF	F.G91				Sgt. R. W. Minkus		Martin-Baker
25th February 1976	GerAF	F.G91				Capt. H. Vinnemceier		Martin-Baker

March

Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
1st March 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom			flying a routine chase mission in an F-4		NASA Photo	Martin-Baker
1st March 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom			flying a routine chase mission in an F-4	Major B. Underwood	Lt. Col. Mike Love (former X-24B) - died in the crash - ejection seat problems	Martin-Baker
3rd March 1976	RAF	Buccaneer				Flg. Off. G.Bowerman		Martin-Baker
3rd March 1976	RAF	Buccaneer				Flt. LTC. Davies		Martin-Baker
4th March 1976	Indian Navy	Sea Hawk	IN-241	300 Sqdn	Rolled off deck of INS Vikrant. Pt Ejected U/W	Cdr P A Debrass		Martin-Baker
5th March 1976	USN	F-14 Tomcat				Lt. Cdr. P. G. Angelina		Martin-Baker
5th March 1976	USN	F-14 Tomcat				Cdr. D. D. Smith		Martin-Baker
10th March 1976	GerAF	F-104				Capt. D.Scharf		Martin-Baker
12th March 1976	RAF	Harrier GR3	XV746/08	1 Sqn	During exercise "Atlas Express". Crashed into a mountain at Bardufoss, Norway	pilot ejected but was killed		Martin-Baker
12th March 1976	Pak	SY.F6				Flg. Off. Z. H. Malik		Martin-Baker
13th March 1976	Venez	Canberra						Martin-Baker
15th March 1976	Ger N	F-104				E.Hahn		Martin-Baker
16th March 1976	RAAF	Mirage	A3-14	77 Sqn	Crashed near Williamtown RAAF Base due to stalled compressor	Flt. Lt. Geoff Kubank ejected safely		Martin-Baker
16th March 1976	USAF	F‑111 F	70‑2388 N10	366th TFW Mountain Home AFB, ID, USA	crashed on runway, 2 after throttle stuck in afterburner	crew ejected safely		Capsule
16th March 1976	Den	F-100				Lt. T. Johanneson		Martin-Baker
16th March 1976	Den	F-100				Lt. N. G. W. Sorensen		Martin-Baker
17th March 1976	USA	Grumman OV-1C Mohawk	60-03761		crashed in Arizona, USA	One pilot ejected before impact but was killed due to impact with the ground		Martin-Baker
17th March 1976	Aircraft called tower and declared an emergency with No. 1 engine out. The aircraft jettisoned the drop tanks at an altitude of 4,500ft. and an airspeed of 90-95kts. The pilots tried to make it to the airfield but crashed 1.9 miles from the end of the runway. . The other pilot did not leave the aircraft until after the plane had impacted the ground and was killed.
20th March 1976	USN	F‑4J Phantom II	158368 NE 202	VF‑21 USS Ranger	struck ramp at night and broke in two	Lt. H. L. Jones		Martin-Baker
20th March 1976	USN	F‑4J Phantom II	158368 NE 202	VF‑21 USS Ranger	struck ramp at night and broke in two	Lt. G.Caswell		Martin-Baker
20th March 1976	Oman	S.Mas				Flt. Lt. T.C. Hewlett		Martin-Baker
23rd March 1976	GerAF	F-4 Phantom				MAJ H.P.Bader		Martin-Baker
24th March 1976	RAAF	Mirage				MAJ G ????		Martin-Baker
24th March 1976	USN	F-14 Tomcat				Lt. Cdr.C.F.Irvin		Martin-Baker
24th March 1976	USN	F-14 Tomcat				Lt.JG S.C.Sabin		Martin-Baker
25th March 1976	Indian AF	Kiran				Flt. Lt. A. K. Joshi		Martin-Baker
30th March 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom						Martin-Baker

April
Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
3rd April 1976	Pak	Mirage				*eject*ed safely		Martin-Baker
7th April 1976	Ind AF	Hunter				P.O S. K. Sinha		Martin-Baker
7th April 1976	Ind AF	Hunter				Flt. Lt. K. A. Ally		Martin-Baker
7th April 1976	USAF	F‑111A	67‑0060 NA	474th TFW	engine fire followed by control loss near Wendover, UT, USA	crew *eject*ed safely		Capsule
21st April 1976	Indian Navy	Vampire T55	At one point in time 4,000th Known Life saved by Martin-Baker seat		India	S.Lt. J. Singh		Martin-Baker 3B
21st April 1976	Indian Navy	Vampire T55			India	Lt. V. Ahooja
21st April 1976	RAF	Hunter F.6	XG185/74	4 FTS	Severe fire in the port wing root. Crashed into shallow water at Maltraeth Sand, South Anglesey. Gwynedd	Pilot Flt. Lt. W. R. Lewis ejected		Martin-Baker

May
Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
1st May 1976	Braz	MB326				ASP A. Muhl		Martin-Baker
4th May 1976	USN	F-14 Tomcat				Lt. B.W.Buckley		Martin-Baker GRU-7
						Lt. N. L. Arden		Martin-Baker GRU-7
11th May 1976	DDR	MiG‑21U	662618 271	JAG‑15	Heavy landing, Germany	Hptm Wolfgang Schonberg did he eject ???	did he survive	SK-1
						OS Lutz Koppe ejected at low level fate ????		SK-1
15th May 1976	Classified	NFD						Martin-Baker
16th May 1976	GerAF	F-4 Phantom II				R.Muller		Martin-Baker
						MAJ S. Zimprich		Martin-Baker
25th May 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom II				Pilot		Martin-Baker
						RIO		Martin-Baker

June
Date	Air Force	A'cft	Unit / Serial	based	crashed	crew	photo	seat
1st June 1976	USN	RF-8G Crusader	146876	VFP-63	in US	Lt. D.Graves ejected		Martin-Baker
7th June 1976	USAF	FB‑111A	69‑6511	380th BW	nr New Haven, 45 M SE of Plattsburgh AFB, VT, USA	crew ejected safely		Capsule
8th June 1976	RAAF	Mirage	A3-67	75 Sqn	Pilot heard a thump and engine failed at 400-500ft. FOD. Crashed while landing at RAAF Base, Butterworth	Pilot F. Off. Malcolm Hurman ejected at 350ft and landed safely.		Martin-Baker
8th June 1976	USAF	F-4 Phantom				DETAILS ???		Martin-Baker
9th June 1976	Den	F-100				Lt. H. G.Clausen		Martin-Baker
9th June 1976	Den	F-100				Lt. P. V. Jensen		Martin-Baker
10th June 1976	Indian A. F.	Iskra TS-11	W-1762	FTW	failed to recover from spin	Sqn LdrJ Thomas Ejected
10th June 1976	Indian A. F.	Hunter T66		OCU		Khalid		Martin-Baker
10th June 1976	Indian A. F.	Hunter T66		OCU		Arun		Martin-Baker
11th June 1976	Spanish Navy	Matador (Harrier)		Whiteman AFB, Missouri, USA	part of first group of Harrier pilots who, following thier US Navy course were passed into the hands of McDonnell Douglas for conversion training	Pilot Lt. Trujillo 8a Escuadrilla, ejected safely following loss of control during take-off.
15th June 1976	Zimb	Hunter				Flt. Lt. T. M. Thomas		Martin-Baker
15th June 1976	USMC	Harrier				Capt. E. B.Cummings		Martin-Baker
16th June 1976	Iran	F-5				Capt. H. Amirian		Martin-Baker
16th June 1976	Ger AF	F-104				R.Schniecke		Martin-Baker
19th June 1976	USN	F‑4J Phantom II	155534 AA	VF‑11		Cdr. R. K. Kauber ejected safely		Martin-Baker
19th June 1976	USN	F‑4J Phantom II	155534 AA	VF‑11		Lt.JG E. E. Mercker ejected safely		Martin-Baker
21st June 1976	USN	F-14A Tomcat	159838 NJ426	VF-124 NAS Miramar	Suffered inflight engine explosion near Miramar. Believed did belly up landing Unsuccessful ejection by who ??
21st June 1976	USN	F-14A Tomcat	159838 NJ426	VF-124 NAS Miramar		Pilot killed	RIO killed	Martin-Baker
23rd June 1976	USN	F-14A Tomcat	159839 NJ427	VF-124 NAS Miramar	Suffered inflight engine explosion near Miramar. Believed did belly up landing Unsuccessful ejection by who ??
23rd June 1976	USN	F-14A Tomcat	159839 NJ427	VF-124 NAS Miramar		Pilot killed	RIO killed	Martin-Baker
23rd June 1976	Iran	F-4 Phantom				1.Lt. A. S. Azar		Martin-Baker
23rd June 1976	Iran	F-4 Phantom				M. Masoud		Martin-Baker
23rd June 1976	USN	A‑7E Corsair II	159287 NE 4	VA‑25 USS Ranger	experienced severe compressor stalls, ditched after engine failure in Pacific Ocean off , nr Subic Bay, Philippines	pilot ejected safely		Escapac
28th June 1976	Belg	Mirage				C. Vermeulen		Martin-Baker

July