Misawa pilot safe after F-16 crash in Iraq

By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, July 18, 2007

An F-16 pilot deployed to Iraq from the 13th Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, ejected safely before his aircraft crashed north of Baghdad on Sunday, according to the Air Force.

The crash occurred at 4:55 p.m. during takeoff from Balad Air Base, according to an Air Force news release.

The jet also was assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron.

The pilot was evaluated by doctors at the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad and released for duty, according to Maj. Robert Couse-Baker, chief of 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs, in an e-mail response.

Officials are not releasing the pilot’s name at this time, Couse-Baker said.

The cause of the mishap is under investigation, a process that typically lasts a month or longer, according to military officials.

Couse-Baker noted that "there is nothing we know of that would indicate enemy fire was a factor."

The pilot was taking off on a combat mission to provide ground forces with close-air support, including reconnaissance and armed overwatch, according to the news release.

The F-16CJ crashed near the runway. Couse-Baker said there was no damage on the ground, though the plane was a total loss.

Sunday´s crash was the second one involving an F-16 operating from Balad since June. Maj. Kevin Sonnenberg, 42, of McClure, Ohio, was killed on June 15 after taking off on a close-air support combat mission. Sonnenberg was from the Ohio National Guard´s 112th Fighter Squadron.

Couse-Baker said that investigation is still ongoing.

[...]

Source: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?sect ... icle=47417

Hello all,

According several news articles the aircraft in question was assigned to the 13th FS. If that is the fact one of these four below must be the aircraft in question.



It is, however, not clear if "assigned" means a red tail of the 13th FS or a yellow tail borrowed from the 14th FS!!

Greetings,

Henrik.

The original very short AFPN news article only stated: "An Air Force F-16 deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing crashed on base during takeoff at 4:55 p.m. July 15. [...]"

The later 332nd AEW PA news article (immediately posted by Asif) further states: "A U.S. Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcon Block 50 assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here, crashed during takeoff Sunday. [...]"

Today, "Stars and Stripes" reported:



All other related news media coverage what I found at least by searching "YAHOO! News" is only from "USA Today", "ABC News", "The Courier" (houmatoday.com) - all based on an AP news from Sunday - and from the Cuban "Granma International" which quoted AFP as source.

But not a single of these four sources talk about a 13th EFS or 13th FS Viper, because AP simply not checked the 332nd AEW PA news story, only published on 332nd AEW´s public website (such websites are typical overlooked by commercial news media).

And in case of "Stars and Stripes", it could be possible that they simply "cutted" the term "Expeditionary" from 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

During the 13th EFS´s ongoing deployment, there are also no Vipers "borrowed" from the 14th EFS. To accomplish their AEF 5/6 and AEF 7/8 (Cycle 6) rotations for OIF at Balad AB, the 14th FS and 13th FS teamed up to deploy a "mixed" aircraft package for both AEF rotations (2x4 months!). And as I already posted above, for AEF 7/8 the 13th EFS simply took over the jets which were already deployed for AEF 5/6 with the 14th EFS.

And so, the pilot was definitely from the 13th FS, but every from the deployed twelve jets could be involved in this mishap.

It was 901

Does anyone have any experience with these crash invegtigations that are in charlie territory? It has to hamper the investigators quite a bit.

Commander discusses F-16CJ crash at Misawa

By Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, July 25, 2007

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — In his latest phone recording to Misawa Air Base residents, 13th Fighter Squadron commander Lt. Col. Steve Williams briefly discusses the Misawa-based F-16CJ that crashed last week upon takeoff at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

"The pilot and everyone on the ground is safe and without injury," he says. "We never slowed down, and continued supporting our fellow Americans on the ground shortly after the accident."

Williams thanked "all those who maintain and inspect the life-support equipment and egress systems," noting "the entire ejection sequence operated perfectly and safely returned the pilot to the ground."

The pilot ejected from the plane before it crashed.

U.S. Air Force officials have not released the pilot’s name. He was evaluated at the Air Force hospital on Balad and released for duty, according to an Air Force news release.

Enemy fire is not suspected, but military officials said nothing is ruled out until the completion of an accident investigation, a process that could take a month or more.

Williams said the squadron — called the 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron while downrange — has continued normal operations since the accident "without missing a beat," despite working with one fewer aircraft.

The squadron, part of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad, is primarily called on to provide close-air support to coalition ground forces.

"Our mission relies on continued focus. Having support from families back home helps us keep our minds on the mission," he said.

To hear the full recording of Williams´ message, call DSN 226-1300.

Source: http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?sec ... icle=47590