Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart Forth
According to Chris Hobson in Vietnam Air Losses (Midland Publishing) on 3rd July 1972, F-4E 69-0289 was lost during a fast FAC mission. The aircraft's centreline fuel tank collapsed, probably the result of small arms fire, during a dive onto target. The pilot, Capt. Stephen Howard Cuthbert was killed but the WSO, Capt. Marion Anthony Marshall, survived and became a POW.
The only problem is that Capt. Cuthbert doesn't appear to have any kills to his credit!
Sorry if this just adds to the confusion, but it's the only loss of a Phantom that I can find that mentions a fuel tank collapse.
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Thank you for your response.
After some research I think I found him; Capt. Calvin Tibbett: He was credited with two Mig 21 kills during Linebacker and he was killed during a training flight over Thailand on November 21, 1972, caused by loss of control. Michel did mention that the cone of the centerline tank broke off, which caused the Phantom to suddenly 'pitch up', lose control and crash with no survivors.