bobdavis
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Post by bobdavis on Dec 30, 2009 3:32:07 GMT 9
I was there at Tyndall AFB, the morning that B model 59-0165 caught fire during startup and burned to the ground. Myself and another Electrical systems tech A1C Jackie Pringle were in the missile bay of an aircraft on the flightline doing some work on a fire loop conrol system. The planes were starting up every so often as scheduled to fly some sorties for the day. After being around the F106's for 7 years you just know when something doesn't sound right during startup. The familiar first pop, then the whine of the fuel-air combustion starter and then the spinning up of the jet engine sound. We were working and close by heard one begin to start, but a defined "thud" and "woompfff" noise caught my attention. I kneeled down and stuck my head out in the direction of the plane just starting. I could see fire near the main wheel well on the starter side. I told Jackie to "come on, get out". We came out and then I could see the Crew chief frantically issuing the hand across the throat 'Shut it down" signal. The pilot in the Front was trying to chop the throttle and cut the master power but it kept running. By now I saw the flames of fire being pulled from the main wheel well under the wing and up around the front of the intake. I could see the rear pilots arms on the canopy rails and I swear i saw the flames licking the arms of his flight suit. By that time the Flight truck pulled up and folks jumped out to grab fire extinguishers. The Crew Chief ran to get the ladder to get the pilots out. But I remember seeing the pilots jumping out. The Crew chief was then spraying the fire extinguisher at the wheel well but the fire was roaring. The Flight line chief was directing folks to get some Colemans and move the adjacent aircraft. Everyone started scrambling and moving planes away in any fashion possible and security started clearing the flight line as we were ushered outside of the ropes. 59-0165 continued to run and burn. We found out afterwards that when the Fuel air starter blew, one of the pieces came out of the starter and severed the teleflex cable to the fuel control. So as long as it was burning and had fuel, even though the pilot killed the master power switch, it continued to run and spew fuel at the starter. It ran for a long period of time as we watched the huge LaFrance fire trucks spray foam to try to put it out. Every so often a strut or backup air bottle would blow and I remember the heat and intensity of the metal burning was incredible. It would slowly sink down to almost ground level, charred and ruined. Eventually, the fire died down some and they were able to extinguish it, although a total loss. This is the best I can recall of the event. Here are some photos from the Tyndall Scope Base newspaper that I saved.    |
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Dec 30, 2009 6:59:04 GMT 9
Bob, I got both of those seats at Griffiss, I had to use parts from both seats to make one good seat for the Flight simulator, the seats were fused with nomex and other cloth which would melt instead of flaming up. I wore out a sander just trying to get the stuff off of them. took me about 6 months but I finally got the seat back together and installed it in the simulator. The head rest were the most difficult part to remove, the screws were under the padding which had melted cover them up pretty good.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Dec 30, 2009 10:55:09 GMT 9
Too bad someone didn't have a camera while the fire was going.
Shane to loose a great aircraft like a B model F-106
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bobdavis
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Post by bobdavis on Dec 30, 2009 11:41:01 GMT 9
Bob, I got both of those seats at Griffiss, I had to use parts from both seats to make one good seat for the Flight simulator, the seats were fused with nomex and other cloth which would melt instead of flaming up. I wore out a sander just trying to get the stuff off of them. took me about 6 months but I finally got the seat back together and installed it in the simulator. The head rest were the most difficult part to remove, the screws were under the padding which had melted cover them up pretty good. Jeff, so that is where the seats went. Very interesting. We watched from the edge of the flightline directly at the plane. At first it was at normal level. Then one of the main struts, the Left I think where the starter was located collapsed and it abrubtly fell lower. Still burning even after a tank load of foam. I think two trucks unloaded foam on it from a distance, but it was intensely hot from the titanium, aluminum and magnesium burning. This coupled with the fact it had a full load of fuel since it was starting to launch kept it burning for a long time. Eventually there was a louder explosion from the nose well area where the LOX converter was and if I recall there was a reserve air tank that ruptured and blew. After a time the nose strut popped and collapsed as well. It was surreal to some extent. I was glad that the pilots and crew chief were not hurt badly. I think one pilot did experience some minor burns on his arms and I think one twisted an ankle during the jump to the ground. It was the quick actions of the crew chief and the Flight line chief at the time for directing folks to get the adjacent aircraft moved lao-lao that prevented further injury and damage. We wondered if it would at any minute blow up into huge fireball. At least 2 tankers of foam were applied, maybe more and I learned that day how difficult it is to extinguish burning magnesium and titanium. I am trying to recall the Flight Chiefs name, he was a CMS and the name Marion comes to mind. He was a good guy, and everyone liked him. Maybe someone else who was there can chime in. |
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bobdavis
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Post by bobdavis on Dec 30, 2009 11:49:23 GMT 9
Too bad someone didn't have a camera while the fire was going. Shane to loose a great aircraft like a B model F-106 Bullhunter, yep there would have been some good shots to be had. But in the day, it was a secured area, and I believe cameras and pictures were a no-no then. I wonder how things are today with everyone having a camera on a cell phone? Speaking of security, I remember my security briefing when I got to Langley and they told the classification of the nuclear capabilities on the six. After I had been at Langley for about a year, I remember going downtown Hampton to a hobby store and seeing a Revell Model of the F106A Delta Dart. Cool, I thought. Then as I was reading the box, I remember seeing "Aim-4 and AIR2A Genies included!". The secret was out to the modeling world...and if I told anybody about it, I would have to kill them.  :0 |
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Post by Mark O on Dec 30, 2009 14:49:13 GMT 9
I wonder how things are today with everyone having a camera on a cell phone? The "official" rules are still just as strict with respect to photography of the flight line. One just has to google something USAF related and you are sure to find plenty of flightline pics. I may have seen a few guys taking photos myself! :nono It's pretty much a self-policing policy. Mark HEY?! Where did this picture come from? In a combat zone no less??!! And is that guy hiding a cigarette? SMOKING? On a flight line??!! No, "I" did not take that photo! (wink, wink, grin, grin!)  |
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Dec 31, 2009 0:10:30 GMT 9
I wonder how things are today with everyone having a camera on a cell phone? In 84 we were at Yakota prepping or Jets for the opening ceremony at Misawa, we had 3 jets and were doing the usual clean and repaint, painting the wing numbers on ETC, ETC. one day they were taking them up for a photo op by Mt Fuji. you should have seen the Japanese on the other side of the fence with their cameras!! Some of the lens were as long as some of guys were tall, we couldn't take photos of the jets on the flight line, but the next day you could buy some just outside the main gate!  |
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bobdavis
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Post by bobdavis on Dec 31, 2009 0:17:56 GMT 9
Mark O. Williams, great pic! A fellow Texan I see as well. I'm in Dallas.
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Dec 31, 2009 1:00:17 GMT 9
;D
Whilst at The SCAB in the Fifties, we were not allowed to bring a camera in to the flight line or hanger areas.
However, Sioux City Municipal Airport's tower, restaurant and parking lot were right next to the 13th FIS ramp.
The only thing between the tourists cameras and our Saber Dogs was a four foot high chain link fence.
In England, as you drive to Mildenhall or Lakenheath air bases, there are parking areas along the fences that have cars sitting there all day with people taking pictures of the planes.
Stupid.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
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MOW
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Post by MOW on Dec 31, 2009 7:03:48 GMT 9
I wonder how things are today with everyone having a camera on a cell phone? In 84 we were at Yokota prepping or Jets for the opening ceremony at Misawa, we had 3 jets and were doing the usual clean and repaint, painting the wing numbers on ETC, ETC. one day they were taking them up for a photo op by Mt Fuji. you should have seen the Japanese on the other side of the fence with their cameras!! Some of the lens were as long as some of guys were tall, we couldn't take photos of the jets on the flight line, but the next day you could buy some just outside the main gate! Jeff, do you happen to remember a crew dog named Bob Egan at Misawa during that time? I was the Phase Chief for the 34th TFS at Hill AFB at the time, he was one of my phase dock team members and got orders to Misawa for the reopening. When you said '84 and Misawa it rang a bell. Speaking of Misawa, my worst nightmare is coming true. I start a TDY there this Sat Jan 2 for a week... Misawa in Jan... I am so over working in such weather. Thank God I don't have to work the flight line anymore  |
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Dec 31, 2009 9:10:21 GMT 9
In 84 we were at Yokota prepping or Jets for the opening ceremony at Misawa, we had 3 jets and were doing the usual clean and repaint, painting the wing numbers on ETC, ETC. one day they were taking them up for a photo op by Mt Fuji. you should have seen the Japanese on the other side of the fence with their cameras!! Some of the lens were as long as some of guys were tall, we couldn't take photos of the jets on the flight line, but the next day you could buy some just outside the main gate! Jeff, do you happen to remember a crew dog named Bob Egan at Misawa during that time? I was the Phase Chief for the 34th TFS at Hill AFB at the time, he was one of my phase dock team members and got orders to Misawa for the reopening. When you said '84 and Misawa it rang a bell. Speaking of Misawa, my worst nightmare is coming true. I start a TDY there this Sat Jan 2 for a week... Misawa in Jan... I am so over working in such weather. Thank God I don't have to work the flight line anymore Name sounds familiar I will have to look up some of my paperwork during my time there. At Misawa our shop was small about 7 people. we were assigned to a fighter Sq, so if they went TDY you would have to go. I was assigned to the 13th Fighter Sq, of course the only time I went with them was to the PI for Cope Thunder. When We started to get our jets from Shaw we would send teams over and pick up 6 to 8 aircraft at a time. Normally the TDY's were about 30 days, we get to Shaw and and 2 urgent action TCTO's hit and of course they have to take care of their birds first, then the ones they are going to transfer ( I became real good at changing out stab and aileron hyd actuators) So we end up there for about a month and a half. we go on to Hawaii and wait for them, normal 2 two days turns into 3 weeks, now I don't want to sound like I'm complaining or anything especially Hawaii, however the government ONLY gave us enough money for a 30 day TDY. Most of us are banking at the credit union back at Misawa without anyway of getting to our money, about 6 of us went to finance to see if we could get an advance on our next pay, ....what a boondoggle, after hearing our story they finally agreed to 45% of our next pay, anything helped. we finally made it back to Misawa and the next day woke up to about 3 feet of snow!! of course we are the only ones walking around in snow with tans I miss the fun times we had there, but I sure don't miss the SNOW!! |
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Dec 31, 2009 9:12:43 GMT 9
;D Whilst at The SCAB in the Fifties, we were not allowed to bring a camera in to the flight line or hanger areas. However, Sioux City Municipal Airport's tower, restaurant and parking lot were right next to the 13th FIS ramp. The only thing between the tourists cameras and our Saber Dogs was a four foot high chain link fence. In England, as you drive to Mildenhall or Lakenheath air bases, there are parking areas along the fences that have cars sitting there all day with people taking pictures of the planes. Stupid. Jim Too  They were most likely Russians, we had them too at Bentwaters and Woodbridge. |
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mal
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Post by mal on Jan 9, 2011 7:53:57 GMT 9
I remember the day quite well. I believe I still have a few pieces of the melted canopy. It does a weird cubing splitting sort of thing as it melts that I found interesting. I forget the guys names but one got but burns where his flight suit had a hole in the butt and I believe the both got burns where the flight suits didn't cover around wrists and maybe ankles. If I recall correctly, that airplane had Chappie James' name on it. I remember specifically having flown it because of the name on it.
Somebody earlier mentioned the F-106 model Revelle had out. The new one has a familiar name on it if you build it in Langley colors. My son was pissed at me because I didn't tell him that. A friend of his bought the model and after noting the name called my son and asked him if his dad flew the 106. That night the wife and I met him for dinner and he had the model in hand.
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mal
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Post by mal on Jan 9, 2011 9:31:08 GMT 9
One more silly war story..... Once upon a time long long ago, I flew commercial out to McClellan AFB to pick up an Atlantic City airplane from major maintenance. When I got there they said I couldn't fly it back because it needed an FCF (functional check flight). When I told them that I was qualified to fly check flights, they all suddenly became quite quiet and got these sheepish looks on their faces. It was so obvious I remember it to this day. I think I even said, "what?" Strange.
It turned out my buddy Angus McDonald who was assigned there to do FCF's was grounded for some reason and not at work either. This resulted in a huge backlog of aircraft awaiting FCF's. I think the number was 12 or so. They figured I'd balk at helping them out and immediately started going over my head trying to get the Air Division and the Guard unit to release me to do it. They figured a couple of weeks; I think I did it in a couple of days with a few re flys on a third day.
In Angus' office there was an AIM 4F missile in full battle colors, no blue stripes or anything. I figured since Angus wasn't around and wouldn't miss it; I'd abscond err borrow it and had them load it on the six I was returning to ACY in. The guys were deployed to Tyndall shooting something so I did a Mil power takeoff out of McClellan and made it non stop to Tyndall for some oysters at Dees'. I told the guys on the line there was a dead missile in live colors in the bay and not to panic or call EOD. They didn't.
The next day two of us left for ACY. When we got there it was snowing hard. We missed a couple of approaches and diverted over to McGuire. I found the ramp by following Jeff Thomas' tracks in the snow and the unit sent a car to pick us up. I got back to ACY and promptly went on leave.
Apparently somebody, known to all by now, was remiss in not notifying anyone about the little bird in the bay. They impounded the airplane and I got a frantic call on leave with a rather unfriendly, WTF? Long story short; the missile sat in my office until we won the F106 category (and almost the whole match) in William Tell 1984. Our maintenance guys did a superb job even winning the best airplane award with a near 30 year old plane. We pilots awarded them the missile with an appropriate plaque noting their fine performance.
About 20 more stories come to mind from that event; some of them repeatable; some not so much.
A short time after Willie Tell; I get a call from some feather merchant on the left coast inquiring if I know anything about a missing missile. I fessed up and told him the God awful truth that I had stolen it but that it was no longer in my possession. After some heated discussion it was decided that if I would sign for it; it would no longer be his responsibility. I agreed and asked him if he had any more. He replied that he indeed had another and I simply told him to send it on. It was just as easy to sign for two as one. Both those missiles were refurbished by the missile shop at ACY. One went to maintenance as I previously noted.
The other I presented to the unit upon my retirement in 1988; again with an appropriate plaque attached and with my deepest appreciation for the best assignment of my career.
As a postscript; I returned to the unit a couple of years ago to see if either of the missiles were still around. Nobody knew a thing about them and I could find them nowhere.
On my way out of the base I noted a change in the F106B static display just outside the gate. In addition to the AIR 2A under the jet that had been there since I retired; there, on lowered rails, for all to see were two AIM4 F missiles. It brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye....
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Post by Mark O on Jan 9, 2011 11:28:59 GMT 9
Mal, that was the best story I've read in a long time! Thanks!
Mark
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Post by Jim on Jan 9, 2011 23:43:05 GMT 9
MAL, Great to have driver talk in here once again............ You indicated "STORIES", lets have some more from you........ The Old Sarge
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jan 10, 2011 1:32:25 GMT 9
:salute
Great story.
I can imagine the looks when the missiles were found in the bay, when none were supposed to be there.
Inert or not, it must have caused a panic.
Happy to know they were not dumped when you retired, but put to good use, by hanging them on the B Model.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
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bobdavis
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Post by bobdavis on May 31, 2011 0:54:35 GMT 9
Great story mal. Thanks. :fire_missle_ani
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Post by sam801 on Oct 12, 2011 7:10:23 GMT 9
Good story Mal< and I can verify alot of it. You probably could tell a few more good stories from William Tell 1984, After all with one aircrew pairing call signs "Dog" and "Dirt" things would be lively. Thanks for the B-model ride back in 1983.
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