F-15D Crashes at Red Flag, 1 dead

[PreContact]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080730/ap_on_re_us/f15_crash

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/07/airforce_f15D_crash_nellis_07308w/

Not a good run of events lately for the AF...

 

[SIG600]

Man, that sucks. I was just out there too. Stand by for the intrusive leadership...

 

[El-Rushbo]

Any word on if this might be related to the recent structural fatigue issues?

 

[414Flyer]

From another message board

"[SIZE=+1]Hi All[/SIZE][SIZE=+1]Late this morning I was observing Red Flag from Coyote Pass on Rt. 375 just five miles east of Rachel, NV when I noticed a black mushroom shaped cloud rising over the mountains N/W of me near what is called Cedar Gate Road, an entrance road to the rear gate of the Nevada Test site. It is about 25-30 miles from where I was observing. I took several photos of the cloud through my 400mm Nikon Lens, and then jumped in my pickup and proceeded to drive to what I thought might be the crash area. By then I knew a jet had crashed from all the activity broadcasting from my scanners. When I arrived at the Cedar Gate Road I parked my truck as I had an elevated view of the expanse of the desert floor where I could see black smoke rising several miles into the desert. Within a short time rescue trucks were speeding to the downed aircraft, and soon a rescue helicopter arrived to bring the downed pilots to the hospital. It was apparent from the radio transmissions that they were able to eject from their disabled jet.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]I was able to take several long distance photos of the activities. Since I was about maybe five miles line of site from the crash, the photos have a lot of haze, so I have to do some Retouching.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Ironically, this past Monday I was viewing Red Flag from Cedar Ranch, approximately one mile from the crash site at what would have been the time of the crash. I didn�t go back there, but instead went to Coyote Pass because nothing worth seeing was happening was occurring above Cedar Ranch. Go figure. If I had been there today, I would have been maybe first or second at the crash site. Maybe it was better that I was not.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Now I hear that one of the pilots died. So, so, sad for our fallen warrior. May his/her spirit now soar in the presence of God.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]I�ll post my full res photos on Webshots when I get home this weekend. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]I feel I should be saying something more about our flying warriors. It humbles me when I see them flying overhead, that for a few of us, we have front row seat to their training. I was never in the military, but I had three bothers serve in the Air Force. Even though I will be forever be a civilian, I still feel in my heart that they are my brothers and sisters.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Now, tonight, as I sit alone in the desert I�ll say a silent prayer for that fallen warrior. Although he/she is in the hands of God, maybe his/her spirit, in a sense, is still flying in the desert skies, doing what they do best, except tonight he/she will be landing not at Nellis.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]�Alan"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]
[/SIZE]

 

[PreContact]

The safety folks would like to see your photos for their investigation.

 

[414Flyer]

That was quoted from a different message board I go to. Las Vegas paper also quoted part of that in an article today, USAF has probably already gotten ahold of him.

But here is a link to the original post.

http://www.dreamlandresort.com/forum/messages/26502.html

 

[GulfstreamSDL]

For those who have not found any updates to this tragic event, here are some articles....

I was part of the media folks for the Red Flag exercise (mostly photographers) and its upsetting to know that I photographed and watched Lt. Col. Bouley depart on his last flight.

God speed.

http://www.nellis.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123108999

http://www.nellis.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123109008