US Marine F-18C from Lakenheath crashes..

[virginiajim]

Crashed in Redmere, Cambridgeshire.  Pilot killed.  Happened today.

https://www.rt.com/uk/319261-f18-crash-raf-lakenheath/

[Lonewolf]

I wonder why they didn't eject?

[virginiajim]

The only thing I can think of would that he was concerned over crashing into an area with people.  We'll probably never know for sure.

[Charlie747]

Just heard it of R4 7pm news. Said it was state bound after a tour in war zone

[O.C.]

apparently failed to rendezvous with re-fueling. ..could he have run out of fuel.

Sympathy to family and friends....tragic loss

[virginiajim]

Still doesn't really explain why he didn't eject, though..

[Boomer]

Was just 5mins out of Lakenheath after a 2 day stopover on way from Bahrain to Florida. USMC F-18. Pilot made sure that his plane would not hit any houses but ejected late and may have hit something. Will not know more until results of investigation are made public. Locals are hailing him as a hero. RIP.

[virginiajim]

 

[Charlie747]

Still doesn't really explain why he didn't eject, though..

I've just sent you a FB he did eject

[Charlie747]

Sorry guys just read Boomers post 

[virginiajim]

What makes this especially sad to me is the military family aspect of this because it essentially happened to my family as well.  As a child and as a spouse, on a military base, you are self contained within the larger military 'family'.  It's a different world/culture on a military base especially to children.  Safety was something we never thought about.  We were protected by guys with automatic weapons who patrolled barbed wire fencing.

On top of losing your father/spouse, you are essentially ripped from the military fabric and sent into the civilian wild.  It takes time to recover from that.....I never have  .  My father died from illness and we were medivaced from England in 1968 through Germany and then back to the States.  Leaving the military fold was traumatic for us.  And only now reading through my mother's papers did I find out the AF had a liaison helping her through our situation. Didn't help my emotional issues, though.

All my best to the family of this pilot.

[O.C.]

heart felt genuine words Jim

[Charlie747]

heart felt genuine words Jim

[SirToU]

Jim,

I get what you mean, I lived as a forces child for the first 11 year of my life, its a different way of life.  In those days, fathers were off for months at a time and mothers were strong and held the home together.  However, there was a sense of safety, everyone basically lived in everyone's pockets unlike today, where lots of people are so insular.

My thoughts go out to his family!  RIP.

[virginiajim]

Jim,

I get what you mean, I lived as a forces child for the first 11 year of my life, its a different way of life.  In those days, fathers were off for months at a time and mothers were strong and held the home together.  However, there was a sense of safety, everyone basically lived in everyone's pockets unlike today, where lots of people are so insular.

My thoughts go out to his family!  RIP.

Some years back I was on a trip to ride from the East to the West coast of the US.  I stopped for gas in Western MD and an individual came over to and pointed to the Strategic Air Command sticker on the front of the windshield.  He was deaf but could still speak.   Turned out his did was a B-52 driver out of Minot back in the 70's.   We communicated for about a half hour or so.  We both ended the conversation in tears.  Once a brat, always a brat.