The CAF lost another aircraft and pilot last weekend : - http://www.confederateairforce.org/news/2003/nr-03-101803.html
That is sad news. I actually met him at an air show held at NAS Kingsville, back when I was a yonker. He bought me a CAF Ghost Squadron cap too. May the Colonel Rest in Peace. ___________ ___________ Commemerative Air Force? What the heck is that? another "politically corrected term? It's CONFEDERATE AIR FORCE! you pc nuts. [ 22. October 2003, 02:56 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]
The airplane magazine Air Classics has some more informantion on the crash of the Wildcat. It sounds as if he stalled the aircraft to me from the infromation given. Witnesses, who were traveling on a nearby roadway , reported observing the Wildcat approx. 200 feet AGL on approach to Ellington Field trailing a B-25 Mitchell. Several witnesses stated the aircraft had executed a series of steep turns to allow for spacing between other aircraft that were on approach to the airport. During a right turn, the Wildcat pitched nose up, the wings wobbled, the airplane descended and entered a partial spin. One witness stated it appeared the Wildcat, approx. 50 AGL, attempted to level off but then impacted terrain in a nose down attitude. Anouther witness stated the propeller was turning and did not notice any problems with the airplane or engine. The witnesses did not observe any smoke or fire from the airplane prior to the impact. The FAA said the pilot was airline transport rated and had approx. 6000 hours of flight time. The Wildcat was N681S and a General Motors FM-2 model. The cockpit throttle control was found in the full forward position, the mixture was found at the idle cut off, and the left magneto was selected.
