Posted on 06/26/2006 1:34:33 PM PDT by Rio
KING CITY, Calif. -- A military spokesman said two Navy fighter jets have collided over a Monterey County military base near King City.
It's unclear whether there are casualties.
The jets were FA-18 fighter jets based out of Fort Hunter Liggett, located about 100 south of San Jose.
The jets were on a training mission.
Prayers! Hope they are safe
The jets from Lemoore Naval Air Station were flying a training mission when they crashed at Fort Hunter Liggett, an Army Reserve base, about 100 miles south of San Jose
Oh dear, I hope the pilots ejected safely and that no one on the ground was hurt by falling debris. I don't know King City--is it a heavily populated area?
King City is central California farmland. Very pretty country.
I pulled it up on mapquest.com. The fort is a few miles west of King City, bordering a national forest, between state Hwy 101 and state Hwy 1, a few miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Doesn't appear to be heavily populated.
when I was stationed there back in the 70's (It was known to the troops as Hungry Maggot Lifer Reservation, sorry if this is offensive) there were way more cows than people. Now King City is in the Salinas Valley and has a fair number of people in the vicinity.
Since Hunter Ligget was upgraded to Fort and Fort Ord was shut down, I would imagine there are a few more people in the vicinity of Jolon.
when I was stationed there back in the 70's (It was known to the troops as Hungry Maggot Lifer Reservation, sorry if this is offensive) there were way more cows than people. Now King City is in the Salinas Valley and has a fair number of people in the vicinity.
Since Hunter Ligget was upgraded to Fort and Fort Ord was shut down, I would imagine there are a few more people in the vicinity of Jolon.
I would think they would have ejected safely as an mid air collision is usually detecable by pilots seconds before it happens, giving them enough time to eject.
KING CITY — Two FA-18 Navy fighter jets collided Monday over a Central Coast military base, but it was unclear if there were casualties, a military spokesman said.
The jets from Lemoore Naval Air Station were flying a training mission when they crashed at Fort Hunter Liggett, an Army Reserve base 150 miles south of San Francisco, said Navy spokesman Dennis McGrath.
The Naval Air Station supplies all the fighter jets to Navy ships off the West Coast and serves as a training site for FA-18s. Dozens of fighters rotate to and from aircraft carriers per month.
The FA-18C "Hornet" is a McDonnell-Douglas single-seat fighter jet that can reach a maximum speed of 1,190 mph. It has been used by the U.S. military since 1962.
A Fort Hunter Liggett spokesperson said two parachutes were seen after the crash. A small ground fire started from the wreckage was put out, the spokesperson said.
Check www.thecalifornian.com for updates.
http://www.californianonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060626/NEWS01/60626003
We'll keep thinking those happy thoughts.
"A Fort Hunter Liggett spokesperson said two parachutes were seen after the crash"
Looks like they got out, lets hope it was safely.
LOL!
What does a plane like that cost?
I recall witnessing, in late 1943 or early 1944 a collision between Lockheed P-38 over the USNTS, San Diego, CA, a Lockheed P-38, I'm not sure now what the other aircraft was nor am I knowledgeable about if there were any casualities.
I faintly remember seeing one parchute open and the Lightning go down at least over the water of San Diego Bay.
This brings to mind seeing a P-38 Lightning pursue a Jap Zero right out of the sky into the waters of Leyte Gulf anchorage (during the invasion of Leyte Island Oct. 20, 1944) he literally flew this Jap right into the water and did a victory roll as he climbed up into the sky!
It was quite a thrill to this 18 year old Amphibious sailor(my first invasion)!
From San Jose Mercury News:
Two parachutes were seen, indicating the pilots ejected, said Don Sundius, a Fort Hunter Liggett spokesman. One pilot was seriously injured, but there was no immediate information on the second pilot.
"They've found one person, but the other is still not accounted for," said Greg Clark, the Monterey County coroner.
The Army was searching in the fields as fire engines worked to extinguish several small fires that broke out as a result of the crashes.
Probably doing low level LATS and RATS maneuvers when they collided simulating a coordinated strike. Somebody forgot his left from his right.
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