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Ejection History

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Started 1 year ago by mikebennett
Latest reply from petemears

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mikebennett

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I hope this letter is appropriate for this Forum

I have spent over 25 years researching the history, development and use of assisted aircrew escape systems. Part of the project involves compiling a comprehensive listing of as many ejections in the world as possible. To date I have reference to approximately 8,000 ejections since 1942 with nearly 30 confirmed Luftwaffe ejections and another 30 possibles.

I am trying, where possible to personally contact ejectees or witnesses to the ejections, so that I can obtain their memories of the period prior to, during and post the ejection and a photograph of the ejectee about the period of their ejection.

I also keep an up to date ejection chronicle on recent ejections on my website.

I would be very grateful if any of your members who have ejected, or are colleagues or relatives of ejectees could contact me either on the forum - or to prevent clogging up the Forum threads off line at my email below.

I want to make clear, that I am not connected with any military, technical, government, nor aeromedical establishment, but a civilian with a passion for aviation history and preserving the memory of all those involved in assisted aircrew escape systems.

Sincere thanks for reading this request

With respect

Mike Bennett
MbenShar@aol.com

Project Get Out and Walk
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk

Posted 1 year ago #
mikebennett

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Dear Forum Members,

I have located a photo on your website of a GR.7 ejection - can anyone please let me know the details of the ejection and also where I can get permission to use a copy the photo on my website once the details have been gathered, hopefully with a photo of the pilot

with respect

Mike Bennett
Project Get Out and Walk
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk

Posted 1 year ago #
jimattrill

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We had two ejections I can remember from the early days of Wildenrath Harrier GR1 operations. One was the CO Wing Cmdr Mckee who was a very large guy, he used to wind the weight up to 200lbs but he was heavier than that. He ejected from XV785? when we were on 'holiday' at RDAF Skrydstrup base. His engine went to flight idle, so he pulled the handle. He had left the throttle wide open and the shock of ejection woke the engine up and it went straight up, being tail-heavy. It flew for about 40 minutes, the Krauts sent an F104 up to shoot it down as it was close to the East German border by this time, but it eventually ran out of fuel and glided (as only a Harrier can glide) and crashed in Denmark somewhere. The controllers didn't realise he had ejected as the radio warning went on for so long they thought it had malfunctioned.

He bought lots of beer for the armourers (and everyone else) after this. He was not known as 'Have another beer' McKee for nothing.

The other was our display pilot who was killed by ATC incompetence, the less said the better.

Posted 1 year ago #
motiwana

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Hello Jim,
Good to see that you have joined the Association as well. Just to point out your slight error in the ejection history of the Squadron during our days. It was in fact Sq. Ldr. Peter Taylor and not the Boss who had ejected when we were detached to Skydstrup in Denmark, where the aircraft lit up after the ejection and went onto fly for nearly 45 minutes, pilotless !! The Boss did eject but it was at another occassion and yours truly was one of troops sent out to guard the crash sight. It was within Germay. Just before the ejection if you remember we were getting ready for deployment to Cyprus, which was subsequently cancelled because of the crash!
Anyway hope to hear from you in th not too distant future.
Kindest regards,
Mo Tiwana.

Posted 1 year ago #
petemears

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Hi Jim/Mo
Mo is right (looks like you've had a 'Senior' moment Jim!) as the 'runaway' jet was XV794/K flown (part of the time anyway!) by S/L Pete Taylor.

For what it's worth, these are the Wildenrath Harrier Force losses I have logged for 1971 to 73 (there were none in 1970). I left 4 Sqn at the end of 73' but have included 1974 losses too, as they were all 4Sqn!

1971
23 Apr. XV798/T 20Sqn - Pilot ejected through trees hovering over dispersal (survived).

1972
12 Jan. XW918 4 Sqn - Pilot ejected over Tuschenbroich village demonstrating ac to Swiss delegation (killed).
21 Mar. XV802/XX 20 Sqn - Pilot blacked out in high G turn and flew into ground (killed).
4 May. XV794/K 4 Sqn - Pilot ejected after bird strike and engine wind-down. Jet flew on for 40 min until ran out of fuel and crashed in field (survived).
20 Jun. XW920 3 Sqn - Pilot ejected after flame-out (sheared LP governer shaft) during APC in Sardinia (survived).
27 Jun XV780/B 4 Sqn - Pilot (Boss) ejected during air test following flame-out due to bird strike (survived).

1973
9 Jul. XV791/W 20 Sqn - Pilot ejected during take-off at Wildenrath due to flame-out after bird strike (survived).
30 Jul. XV805/Z 20 Sqn - USMC pilot (operating from field site) ejected after a flame-out due to bird strike (survived).
6 Sep. XV750/X 20 Sqn - Pilot ejected near Roermond following engine mechanical fault (survived).

1974
23 Jan. XV797/H 4 Sqn - Pilot ejected over Holand after flap failure, but chute fouled by shoulder harness that unfastened during ejection (killed).
26 Mar. XV785/F 4 Sqn - Pilot ejected on runway during landing as reverse braking operation caused aircraft to pitch up (killed).
16 May. XV800/G 4 Sqn - Lost power on take off due to bird strike and crashed from 50'. Unconfirmed whether pilot ejected or stayed with jet (survived).

Hope you find these of interest.
Best wishes
Pete

Posted 1 year ago #
Roy Harrison

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I concur with the last two statements.
Roy.

Posted 1 year ago #

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