Two F-15's Collide, missing in Gulf of Mexico

[Flare]

Have they released the name publicly yet?

[Steve Davies]

Have they released the name publicly yet?

No.

[Techsan]

I was with the Gorillas before pilot training. So sad to hear the news.

[HerkDerka]

Him Him

HD

[Guest gtyj98]

Have they released the name publicly yet?

1st Lt. Ali Jivanjee of the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base died in the crash of two F-15s over the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123087353

Edited February 22, 2008 by gtyj98

[F-15E WSO]

RIP Brother!

[Berry]

RIP Brother!

Went to ROTC with this fine American.

[GSXR6Racer]

:beer:

[Guest Fuse]

[Guest Boom]

[vsu8992]

NNS080325-15. USNS Grasp Recovers Two U.S. Air Force Jets

By Laura M. Seal, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

GULF OF MEXICO (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) rescue and

salvage ship USNS Grasp completed recovery operations for two USAF F-15C

fighter jets in the Gulf of Mexico March 22.

The jets crashed over the Gulf approx 50 mi from Eglin AFB, FL Feb 20.

Recovery efforts began March 1 when Grasp arrived in the vicinity of the crash

site to locate the wreckage, and ended March 22 when the last recoverable debris

from the second aircraft was lifted onto the ship's weather deck.

Salvage operations, which could normally have been conducted within a week,

were delayed by severe weather conditions that twice sent the ship back to

port.

The first aircraft was recovered March 12 from a depth of 177 feet and the

second aircraft was recovered March 22 from a depth of 185 feet. More than

half of each aircraft was salvaged including their engines, data collecting

devices (flight recorders) and main computers. These items are vital to the Air

Force's investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

The salvage operations were conducted jointly by Grasp's crew of 28

civil service mariners and 20 Sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit

(MDSU) 2, based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. MDSU-2 is not

permanently assigned to Grasp, which also carries a detachment of three Sailors to

perform communications functions.

Since the exact position of the wreckage was unknown, the ship's

civilian crew worked in cooperation with Sailors of MDSU-2 to locate the

debris by combining the ship's navigational information with data obtained from

the dive unit's locating equipment. Upon arrival at each site, Grasp's

civilian crew anchored the ship directly above the wreckage and the divers

submerged to prepare the debris for recovery. Grasp's 40-ton boom then lifted the

wreckage out of the water using a cable that was attached by the divers.

"This recovery operation was extremely difficult," said Grasp's civilian

master, Capt Jose Delfaus. "The wreckage was scattered across a wide area and

the divers had to overcome dangerous depths and diving conditions. Some of the

wreckage was so entangled that it took several dives to complete the

mission."

Four Air Force personnel, including a civilian wreckage photographer, were

aboard Grasp during the salvage operations to conduct the initial research and

data analysis about the crash.

The crash claimed the life of one of the two pilots, and both were

recovered the day of the accident. The jets were assigned to the 33FW at

Eglin AFB.

Grasp is one of MSC's four 255-foot salvage and recovery ships that are able

to deploy rapidly to recover objects from the sea, tow stranded vessels and

provide firefighting assistance.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visited

www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.

[Flare]

So when something like this happens, does the SIB get extra time, or is their report still due within 30 days? If they just got some of the wreckage this week, yet their 30 day report is also due this week.....is there any leeway for this?

[Guest JoeBob1]

Does anyone know how the crash happened yet, I mean I have a pretty good idea. However, its just an idea.

[Ram]

So when something like this happens, does the SIB get extra time, or is their report still due within 30 days? If they just got some of the wreckage this week, yet their 30 day report is also due this week.....is there any leeway for this?

I remember from Kirtland that there's some kind of "interim report" published in AFSAS under special circumstances like this, if an extension is required.

I'm sure it all depends upon the other details, too. In this case, they have one pilot to interview, as well as radar data.

...as always, until the report comes out, everything is just speculation.