Need help ID'ing an American Phantom Pilot;

[NickM]

Going over Marshal Michel's book "Clashes" & he mentioned that a 'multiple Mig Kill' USAF pilot was lost returning from a Linebacker I mission; the 'front' of the centerline fuel tank broke off, which resulted in loss of control & a fatal crash. Any idea who this pilot was?

Thanks ahead of time.

[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.

[NickM]

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.

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.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Stuart/Nick

Hobson lists this incident as happening on Nov 20th (not the 21st)

Also looks like Michel confused/mixed up two different incidents....

Stig

[NUPPOL]

captain Tibbett memorial
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...017012&df=all&

Major Cuthbert memorial
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...524377&df=all&

[NickM]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Stuart/Nick

Hobson lists this incident as happening on Nov 20th (not the 21st)

Also looks like Michel confused/mixed up two different incidents....

Stig

I cannot speak to Michel's mixing up two incidents; he only commented on a 'multiple mig killer' who was killed in a flying accident during 'Linebacker' with no other details or dates being given. I did a bit more searching on line & stumbled upon it myself.

Thank you for the follow up.