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7/21/01--
Reservists rescue F-16 pilot in Turkey
- ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- Within minutes of getting the call, an Air Force Reserve Command HH-60G Pave Hawk crew scrambled to retrieve a pilot whose F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed July 18 near Batman, Turkey.
The crew from the 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., was deployed to Turkey when it picked up Capt. Michael A. Nelson Jr., of the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. The 305th RQS is providing combat-search-and-rescue support for Operation Northern Watch.
At the time of the incident, the F-16 was en route to a mission enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq. Batman is in eastern Turkey, near the Iraqi border. The rescuers were at a forward operating location, preparing to go on alert, at the time.
"Our people picked up the pilot (soon) after he bailed out," said Lt. Col. Harold Maxwell, 305th RQS deputy commander for operations. "After they took him to their base, they transferred the pilot to a C-130 (Hercules) where the two pararescuemen and our flight surgeon treated him on the one-hour flight to (Incirlik AB, Turkey)."
This was not the first time his unit has come to the aid of a pilot in that part of the world, he said. The last time was seven years ago when rescuers flew into Iraq to get a downed British Harrier crew.
During this deployment, most of the 305th RQS members volunteered for the squadron's entire six-week commitment. Reservists usually serve overseas for two weeks.
"They are an experienced, dedicated group," Maxwell said. "Most of the crews have more than 3,000 flying hours. They have given up their civilian vacation time because they believe in what they've been trained to do." (Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command News Service)
7/19/01--Gunnin' for 'Blue'
07/19/01 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) -- Maj. Jim Shaw, from the 18th Wing here, looks for the "Blue" opposition aircraft while flying a training mission in an F-15 Eagle over the Pacific Ocean near Okinawa, Japan. (Photo by Master Sgt. Marvin Krause)
7/18/01--F-16 Crashes in Turkey
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed July 18 near Batman, Turkey.
The pilot, 1st Lt. Michael A. Nelson, Jr., of the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, ejected and is uninjured. He was picked up in a combined Turkish Jandarma/U.S. Air Force pararescue effort and returned here.
The aircraft, assigned to Operation Northern Watch, was en route to a mission enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq.
A board of qualified officers will investigate the accident.
7/17/01--Site Re-Opens
The site reopened today and will be growing rapidly over the next few weeks. the 2001 schedule has been posted. Soon I hope to buy a domain name and transfer the files. Keep coming back everyone.
7/17/01-F-16 Crash Kills Two
(AFPN) -- An F-16 chase aircraft here crashed July 17 killing two people.
Maj. Aaron George, a pilot with the 416th Flight Test Squadron here, and Judson Brohmer, a subcontractor aerial photographer supporting Lockheed Martin at the time of the incident were killed.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was conducting photo and safety chase support for a separate F-16's test mission when it crashed at about 7 a.m. nearly 30 miles east of China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center, Calif.
A board of officers will investigate the accident.
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