The Unofficial U.S. Air Force HH-43B/F "PEDRO" Crash Rescue - Air Rescue Web Site

Photo submitted by and remains the property of Bill Junkins

"The picture above is of the crash of an F-4. As near as I can remember, the crash site is approximately 15 miles off of the end of Runway 36 at Ubon RTAFB. The aircraft was returning with battle damage from a mission in support of Linebacker I. The crash occurred as the aircraft was on final approach very late on a very dark and rainy monsoon season night. For some reason the aircraft lost power to its instrumentation. The aircraft rolled to an angle of approximately 90 degrees. This is when the crew bailed out of the aircraft. They ejected parallel to the ground at a very low altitude. We are talking just a matter of feet. I'm sorry to say the did not survive their ejections"

Bill Junkins
Det. #3, 38th ARRSq.

This is a photograph of the crash site. If you look closely, just to left of the center of the photograph (marked with a red dot), you will see a Ch-54 hovering above the fuselage of the F-4. This was a test pick. The Ch-54 had to burn off fuel to reduce the weight of his helicopter, before he could actually pick and fly with the fuselage.

If you look closely at the bottom right corner of the photograph (also marked with a red dot), you can see a CH-53 sitting in the road. This aircraft was later used to pick the tail section of the F-4.

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This page updated March 26, 2008

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