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The Marine Corps said the two jets were in formation when they started their controlled approach and that Blair's aircraft was struck from the rear by theother jet.Cmdr. King’s aircraft remained airborne after the mid-air collision which occurred during clear weather. He reported his control panel indicated his landing gear was unsafe.The control tower operator at the El Toro field placed him on a heading which would carry him over Camp Pendleton for a controlled ejection.Immediately after Cmdr. King ejected, however, his plane apparently winged over, reversed its course and crashed on a barren ridge just south of the camp’s industrial area, but still within the desired impact area, a Marine spokesman said.Both pilots were attached to Navy Attack Squadron (VA)-23 presently based at Lemoore Naval Air Station, south of Fresno. This squadron recently flew off the carrier Midway in Viet Nam action.County forestry fire fighting units at the scene of the first crash said the jet burned and ignited a one-acre brush fire.So rugged was the terrain that only four-wheel drive brush fire units could reach the scene. The heavier equipment was forced to turn back.
Newspaper Details
Santa Ana Register
Santa Ana, California, US
Fri, Feb 25, 1966
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA, USA 11 Dec 2018
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