american F-102A crasehd 30 miles NW Strasbourg France

[Flyingkag]

Thanks Khorat!

Fact that you have just 3 crashed F-102A in your list do mean that there just were 3 F-102A that crashed, or that you maybe just have part of the list of the crashed ones? (maybe more?)

I believe the one you gave (Ingwiller) is the good one, and I will soon check in local newspapers archives; I keep in touch and will share results!

Thanks!

Mathias

[Leendert]

It appears that F-102A of 526th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (Ramstein, GE) was involved in a mid-air collision with F-102A 55-1263 near Ingweiler.

A/c # 263 was damaged.

Picture here of # 237 here: http://www.usarmygermany.com/Units/A...h%20AD%201.htm

Regards,

Leendert

[Flyingkag]

Hi Leendert and Khorat,

I have checked in our local newspaper archives and you were right; my plane near Ingweileir is the one crashed on july 14th 1969!

Newspapers (16 july 1969) explains that 3 planes were flying together, and two had a light mid-air collision. Both others could land safe at their base (it was not Ramstein but another big US airfield near Luxembourg (I cannot remember the name, begins with D..., sorry I have let the article at my office).

Pilot of the crashed F-102A airplane was Lt Jimmy McIlwain; he bailed out, and landed safe about 15km from crash site. Crash happeed near village of Lichtenberg in the forest; plane maed a vertical dive, and exploded in teh forest as hitting. There is a huge hole in the ground there, and thousands of little parts from the plane all around.

It appears that it had a four colour camouflage as it crashed (hell brown, dark green, kind of black, and white.

Do you know if McIlwain is still with us?

Maybe a pict of him, or biography?

Do you believe such a plane in 1969 could have a bomb on board on that day, or ammunation, or did just the impact create a 6 meters bright, 3 meters deep cratere in stone earth???

Thakns for your successfull help!

Mathias

[Leendert]

Mathias,

Ramstein was the home base of 526th FIS, not necessarily where the other two F-102s made their landing.
Other USAF bases in greater area included Bitburg, Spangdahlem and Zweibrücken.

Regards,

Leendert

[Flyingkag]

you are right Leendert; thanks!

the artiche gave Spangdalhem (sorry, my memory is to bad, name did not begin with D!)as base from where the crasehd airplane was supposed to come (or the other ones).

Pilot McIlwain landed on village Uberach in Alsace, with parachute.

Mathias