Investigators determined pilot error caused the 6 April 2011 crash of a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet near Lemoore Naval Air Station, California. Both the pilot and the backseat NFO were killed.
The pilot, Lt. Matthew I. Lowe, 33, of Plantation, Fla., and the plane’s weapons officer, Lt. Nathan H. “Beefcake” Williams, 28, of Oswego, N.Y., were Read more
US District Judge Jeffrey Miller ruled the surviving members of a family killed by an F/A-18 crash in San Diego were to receive $17.8 million from the US government. They had sued and sought $56 million.
Don Yoon lost his 36-year-old wife, Youngmi Lee Yoon; his 15-month-old daughter, Grace; his 2-month-old daughter, Rachel; and Read more
The extended members of four members of a family who were killed in the 2008 crash of an F/A-18 Hornet into their San Diego home are reportedly suing the Marine Corps for $56 million.
Don Yoon lost his 36-year-old wife, Youngmi Lee Yoon; his 15-month-old daughter, Grace; his 2-month-old daughter, Rachel; and his 59-year-old mother-in-law, Seokim Kim Lee, who was visiting from Korea to help her eldest daughter take care of their children.
As noted at the time, the accident represented Read more
The US Coast Guard reported that a Marine F/A-18 flying out of Miramar went down late Wednesday night. The two crew members ejected and spent four hours in the (relatively chilly) Pacific waters, finally being rescued by Coast Guard assets at around 0230.
After notification of the downed aircraft at 10:15 p.m., the Coast Guard launched assets to begin the rescue mission…The Coast Guard MH-60 Jahawk’s…aircrew maneuvered into position, and the rescue swimmer deployed to recover the Marines, who were hoisted into the helicopter and flown to a hospital.
The rescue effort was substantial:
The Coast Guard Cutter Edisto…, the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau…, a C-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Sacramento — the first asset on the scene — and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Sector San Diego responded.
The names of the crew were not released. As is usual practice, the military will investigate and report on the mishap in the coming months.
Another US Navy fighter squadron conducted a change of command in the air recently.
The “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 held an airborne change of command ceremony above the deployed aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) April 27.
Cmdr. Daniel J. Sullivan IV relieved Cmdr. Randy Stearns as VFA 11 commanding officer.
Sullivan and Stearns both flew Read more
A US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed near its home base of Naval Air Station Lemoore in California last Wednesday.
Navy LTs Matthew I. Lowe and Nathan H. Williams were killed in the crash. Lowe was the front seat pilot; Williams was the rear cockpit naval flight officer. There is little other official information available at this time.
As is usual, a military board will investigate the mishap over the next month or two.
The ceremony for a unit change of command is steeped in tradition, consistent with the history that is often cited at the ceremonies. The formal event was originally an opportunity for members of a unit to see their old commander relinquish his authority and transfer the flag of command to the new leader.
A unique and fairly modern twist on this ceremony sometimes take place in aviation squadrons. As the ceremony is conducted on the ground, the incoming commander flies overhead on the wing of the outgoing commander. As the two aircraft Read more
AM3 Alfonso Tulavillanueva had a unique opportunity to re-enlist at sea when he was given a flight in an F/A-18 Hornet. His pilot (or “naval aviator”), Cmdr Mitchell Conover, administered the re-enlistment oath during the flight.
Interestingly, Tulavillanueva’s commanding officer had apparently offered flights to anyone who was willing to take it upon themselves to get the necessary training. CAPT Paul Sohl said only two ever took him up on the offer.