Green Flag 81-3: 12th Tac Recce Squadron

[Old Viper Tester]

12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron out of Bergstrom AFB at Nellis for Green Flag 81-3, April 1981.

This was a tragic deployment for the 12th. 71-0250 crashed on the Nellis training ranges on 16 April with the loss of both crewmen. The next day, 68-0611 also crashed on the range killing both crew. The squadron stood down and departed for Bergstrom in the following days.

 

68-0609

 

68-0611

 

 

69-0378

72-0147

 

71-0250

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

 

Edited September 24, 2018 by Old Viper Tester
Corrected data

[Calum]

Terrific quality images as usual

[whiskey]

Great pictures Sven. Sad and tragic to hear about not one but two losses from the same squadron in such a fashion. Did they ever discover what happened?

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Definitely sad and a hard thing for a tightknit group like a tactical recon. unit to get through im sure. I second the question ? What was the A.F. Boards determination for the crashes ?  

[Old Viper Tester]

17 hours ago, whiskey said:

Did they ever discover what happened?

 

15 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

What was the A.F. Boards determination for the crashes ?  

I posted this same article on a Facebook F-4 group and asked for clarification of my recollection. Someone who was flying with the 12th at the time responded with this:

 

"71-0250 crashed 16 April 1981 (Johnson/Gholson) and 68-0611 (Vaeth/Heidemann) the next day. Four fine men from 12th TRS died. Both aircraft had mechanical failures at low altitude. Ejections too low."

 

I never did see the mishap board report, by that June I had been posted from Nellis to Edwards and was immediately immersed in the T-38 and A-37 with the Test Pilot School. Haven't been able to find anything authoritative on line. There are some sources on the net that say '611 was written off at Tyndall AFB on 17 April and I know that can't be right since '611 was on the other side of the country at the time.

 

Sven

Edited September 22, 2018 by Old Viper Tester

[whiskey]

Damn.

[F-32]

Superb shots

[72modeler]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Open photoflash bay on -0378? You are so fortunate to have seen so many incredible airplanes in your career, Sven...BTW, thank you for your service, sir!

Mike

[HaydnQuartet]

I know this is an old thread, but this will give some clarification on what happened.  I was part of the 12th at the time it happened.  The first aircraft that went down was due to the photoflash bay doors not opening fully.  The cartridges actually fired and stayed inside the aircraft burning part of the tail section which caused the aircraft to lose control.  All aircraft were prohibited from using photoflash until the doors could be re-rigged.  If I remember correctly, the second aircraft was lost trying to obtain photos of the crash site and crashed due to pilot error.  It was a sad time.  No one wants to lose crewmembers during war time, but peace time losses seem to hit a little harder since they are so unexpected.

[HOUSTON]

Very nice photos Sven but sad to hear the crews didn't make it home.

Saddest thing to lose not one but two from the same squadron.

:

HaydenQuartet, thank you for your explanation. 

it must have been heartbreakibg for you and all those involved.

I'm  sorry.

 

[Latinbear]

Always great to see your images and especially when they are Phantoms. Thanks very much for sharing these and the back story too.