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To: chance33_98
Sorry to hear it.
2 posted on 09/15/2003 12:41:20 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: DoughtyOne
January 18, 1982, saw the catastrophic "Diamond Crash" occur during a practice over Range 65, now referred to as "The Gathering of Eagles Range". The team was conducting a line abreast loop maneuver, when a malfunction of the Commander/leader's aircraft proved to be fatal for the four pilots of the Diamond formation. Those involved were: Maj. Norm Lowry, commander/leader; Capt. Willie Mays, left wing; Capt. Pete Peterson, right wing; and Capt. Mark Melncon, slot. Due to this catastrophe and the transition to a new aircraft, the Thunderbirds did not perform any aerial demonstrations during the 1982 demonstration season.

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IIRC, the planes all guided to the leader, and crashed within feet of each other, still in formation.

4 posted on 09/15/2003 12:55:39 PM PDT by gridlock (All I need to know about Islam, I learned on 9/11/01)
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