Our thoughts and prayers for the pilot and the family, wherever and whoever they may be.
June 15, 2020, 01:47 PM
jcsabolt2
Sorry to hear that Tac, we lost an F-22 and F-35 a week or two ago down at Eglin AFB in Florida over a 48 hour period.
---------- “Nobody can ever take your integrity away from you. Only you can give up your integrity.” H. Norman Schwarzkopf
June 15, 2020, 01:58 PM
Kevbo
I had not heard that the pilot’s body has been recovered. I started looking at and following the SAR effort earlier this morning through a group I’m in that includes a variety of people from, active duty, Guard and reserve pilots, to hobbyists, and military brats (like me).
Apparently the UK disbanded the active coast guard dedicated SARnunit that was up near Lakenheath a few years back according to some of the members of the group and they were speculating that would complicate SAR efforts. Tac, I’ve always respected your take on all things U.K., but especially military. Do you have a take on the accuracy of that?
I’ve always had a special affinity for the Eagle. My dad was with 1st TFW at Langley when the first Eagles started on active duty. Somewhere there is a picture of him holding a very young me on the flight line in front of one of the first active F-15As
Years later, when I myself was in the Army I tried to get my father to get me a ride in an Eagle but was unsuccessful and had to settle for a ride in a T-38.
May the pilot Rest In Peace. At least their family will be able to bury their loved one
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If the meek will inherit the earth, what will happen to us tigers?
June 15, 2020, 02:15 PM
tacfoley
quote:
Originally posted by Kevbo:Apparently the UK disbanded the active coast guard dedicated SARnunit that was up near Lakenheath a few years back according to some of the members of the group and they were speculating that would complicate SAR efforts. Tac, I’ve always respected your take on all things U.K., but especially military. Do you have a take on the accuracy of that?
All I know is the HM Coastguard based in Humberside were involved on callout in the SAR effort.
Please read about the unit here - [url=http://bristowgroup.com/bristow-news/latest-news/2017/500th-mission-milestone-humberside-coastguard-
Quote from RAF Lakenheath press office -
Search efforts by HM Coastguard had found the aircraft wreckage with recovery efforts under way.
HM Coastguard said on Monday morning that it had received reports that an aircraft went into the sea 74 miles off the coast of Flamborough Head in Yorkshire.
A Coastguard helicopter and Bridlington and Scarborough RNLI lifeboats were sent to the area.
The Coastguard also sent a Mayday broadcast, resulting in other vessels nearby heading there.
So, two lifeboats of the RNLI and a SAR helicopter went looking.
Just shows that they don't sit on their arses drinking tea and scoffing doughnuts ALL day, in spite of rumours to the contrary.
June 15, 2020, 02:44 PM
Kevbo
Thank you for the response and the links. I’ve been trying to find where I read about the closure but, of course, can’t. It was either a response in one or several threads I was reading, or a comment on one of many posts in the closed Facebook group
Either way, I have no doubt the Brits did their level best to save this pilot; I apologize if anything I said came across as doubting that. My experience with the British military was with the Army (since I was in the Army) but I never doubted my English comrades in arms. Theirs was a profession of arms, the same as mine.
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If the meek will inherit the earth, what will happen to us tigers?
June 15, 2020, 03:01 PM
tacfoley
From a local fisherman - One of the other 3 jets flew back with a cracked canopy, and one of the local fishermen reported a large flock of breeding Gannets, they are very big so possibly knocked out?
Euro-Gannets are VERY big birds, with a wingspan of up to six and a half feet. A bird strike with a bird this size could be catastrophic at 500 mph...but right now, who knows?
On February 25th 1945, my namesake, 1st Lt Thomas J Foley of 466 BG, took off from nearby RAF Attlebridge as co-pilot in his B24 'Chris's Crate II'. Twenty minutes later it was in the North Sea. He and five others didn't make it out and were never found.
June 15, 2020, 03:33 PM
hbabler
Throw a nickel on the grass
Thank you for your service to this nation.
June 15, 2020, 04:28 PM
RHINOWSO
RIP. Aviation is a dangerous business, no telling what happened with the little that has been reported, but hopefully they figure out the reason eventually.
