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)
To: gridlock
I remember that. They were so focused on staying in formation that not one of them noticed that they were flying into the ground.
5 posted on
09/15/2003 1:06:01 PM PDT by
Blood of Tyrants
(Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave.)
To: gridlock
Way back when.. My Squadron CO was an Ex-Blue Angel...
When doing our work ups prior to going to Vietnam... He brought us out three at a time
for "Formation Drills". He told us, quote, "All heads are on me ! I fly the formation , you
fly on me. If I hit a mountain.. I want four evenly spaced holes !!!!”
I knew I made it to the "BIG " time
9 posted on
09/15/2003 1:56:54 PM PDT by
Robe
(Rome did not create a great empire with meetings,they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
To: gridlock
My brother was flying left wing, Capt. Willie Mays.
I remember the date well...
I'm glad the Solo pilot made a safe ejection.
14 posted on
12/06/2003 6:28:57 AM PST by
xlbder
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