F4B Archives - Aviation Wings

VF-142 F-4B emergency landing

A U.S. Navy McDonnell F-4B Phantom II (BuNo 150643) belonging to Fighter Squadron VF-142 Ghostriders appears in the article’s featured photograph. VF-142 served with the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) from May 5, 1964, to February 1, 1965, as part of Attack Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW-14).

The first strikes of the Vietnam War were launched by CVW-14. A 57 mm round struck the F-4B 150643 of the fighter cover (call sign “Dakota 207,” pilot Fred Ferrazzano) at 150 meters when it was on a photo reconnaissance mission to the Thanh Hoa Bridge. The main spar had been twisted by the impact, which also shattered the nose cone and caused portions of it to be ingested by both J-79 engines.

It was aboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61) that the pilot was allowed to recover. The aircraft was later disassembled in Subic Bay, Philippines, for spare parts because of the damage. Consider that an AIM-9B Sidewinder missile is being carried by the aircraft.

VF-142 transition from the F-4B to the F-4J

Home of M.A.T.S. states that the Ghostriders conducted four WestPac deployments between May 1964 and May 1968, with one deployment on the USS Ranger (CV-61) and the remaining deployments aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64). Two MiG-21s, one MiG-17, and an An-2 Colt aircraft were shot down by VF-142 crew members during these cruises. Additionally, the squadron received three COMNAVAIRPAC Battle Efficiency “E” Award.

On August 11, 1969, the Ghostriders, converted from F-4B to the more modern F-4J aircraft, made another deployment for WestPAC aboard USS Constellation. The squadron received the Naval Aviation Safety Award in 1969–1970 and the Battle E Award in 1968–1969. For their sixth combat deployment to Vietnam, VF-142 and USS Enterprise (CVN-65) deployed in June 1971.

VF-142 F-14B emergency landing

That time a VF-142 F-14 Tomcat with missing radome made an emergency landing aboard USS Eisenhower

Remarkably, another VF-142 aircraft, this time a Grumman F-14B Tomcat (BuNo 161433) on board the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), had to make an emergency landing when the nose cone came off due to a latching mechanism failure at a height of 8,200 m over the Persian Gulf, 26 years after the incident depicted in the post’s featured image.

The radome struck the canopy during departure, shattering the windshield and breaking out the front glass. Despite suffering a fractured right collarbone and glass in both eyes, the pilot successfully returned the jet to the ship for a flawless two-wire landing.

With all the forward glass so badly damaged, the only way to see forward was through a three-inch hole in the left windscreen. LCDR Joe Edwards flew as the pilot, and LCDR Scott Grundmeier served as the RIO. LCDR Edwards was medevac’d to Bahrain for eye surgery, then home to the US.

For their outstanding accomplishments, both crew members were awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses.

Photo by Commander Fred Ferrazzano / U.S. Navy and U.S. Navy via HOME OF M.A.T.S.

The video in this post was captured on board the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) and shows a mishap on CAT-3 as an F-4B Phantom II of VF-151 is pushed down the deck by its damaged nose gear following a miscue

The video in this post, which was shot on board the USS Coral Sea (CV-43), shows an accident on CAT-3 in which a VF-151 F-4B Phantom II is dragged down the deck by its damaged nose gear. If you look attentively, you can see the nose gear collapsing before becoming entangled in the bridal/shuttle that is dragging the Phantom II into the water.

As AO2 Tom Pokora explains in a video comment:

‘I was also on deck that day when the skipper and LCdr Keating had to eject. I was standing right across from the waist cat when the accident occurred. I have always maintained that the hold-back “apple” prematurely broke and the F-4 in full burner lurched forward just before the cat fired. The cables fell off and the plane rolled down the deck ways and the shuttle blew the nose gear up into the radome. The plane continued down the deck on it’s nose and ejection occurred just before it went off the angle deck. Canopies and ejection seats were coming down and I had to scramble. I looked aft and saw Cdr. Winton blowing down the deck and over the fantail. I remember he did not want us to try and grab him as he knew there was no stopping him with the deck wind. A very sad day.’

John Chesire, a former US Navy F-4 Phantom II Pilot, describes on Quora;

‘Aircraft carrier’s catapult catastrophic malfunction happens, but it is thankfully a rare occurrence. Nevertheless, the possibility is in the back of the mind of everyone who sits on the catapult at full power, waiting to be shot off the ship within two seconds time.

‘The more common failure is called a “cold cat” whereby the end speed off the catapult is not enough to maintain flight and the aircraft falls into the water off the ship’s bow.

‘However, other failures can occur. The video below was my squadron just before I joined them. The cable from the catapult to the aircraft snapped, and the freed shuttle came forward, breaking the nose wheel. The aircraft could not stop, both pilot and RIO ejected, but the RIO died.’

Video: Coral Sea PLAT video from Gary Schreffler

Aviation stories, Aviation glories

F4B

The VF-142 F-4B that was able to make an emergency landing aboard USS Ranger after her radome was destroyed by Vietnamese AAA

VF-142 F-4B emergency landing

VF-142 transition from the F-4B to the F-4J

VF-142 F-14B emergency landing

As the cable connecting the catapult to the US Navy F-4B Phantom II snapped, the shuttle that had been released crashed into the nose wheel

The video in this post was captured on board the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) and shows a mishap on CAT-3 as an F-4B Phantom II of VF-151 is pushed down the deck by its damaged nose gear following a miscue