Loring AFB Crash of 58-0789 (Read 2,172 times)

It was 17Mar66 and number of us MA1 wienies were returning from the flightline to the B36 nosedock that provided the MA1 shop and mock-up for the 27th FIS at Loring AFB. We were riding in Falcon 6, a IH Metro, that provided transportation for us wienies and the black boxes of the MA1 system. We had been on the flightline to provide quick response to any MA1 malfunctions during the morning mission preflight. We drove back to the nosedock when the F106s taxied out to the active runway. Just as reached our nosedock and exited Falcon 6, we heard that bang of a F106 afterburner and watched as the F106 traveled down the runway in its takeoff roll. From our vantage point we could just see the tip of the tail of the Six during its takeoff roll. As it cleared the runway it came into full view. In succession we heard each remaining Six hit AB and complete their takeoffs.

As the last Six came into view, it climbed normally, turned east toward Canada, and leveled off. Just as it completed its turn, we saw an explosion at the rear of the aircraft with smoke and fire. Very quickly after the explosion there was a small puff of smoke near the front of the aircraft. Immediately the aircraft went nose down and plunged toward the ground and out of sight. We did not see the impact explosion but shortly a large pall of black smoke came into view. After what felt like an eternity we saw the orange and white of a parachute appear in the sky near where we had seen the small puff of smoke. Then the outline of the pilot was visible beneath the 'chute.

About that time Falcon 6's radio came alive with traffic from maintenance control and we were informed that it was 58-0789 that went in! Its pilot was Capt. Gustav Devrieud and his condition was unknown. Of course we told maintenance control that we saw the pilot punch out and that his 'chute opened normally. During this exchange with MC we watched the SAC rescue helicopter takeoff and head toward the crash site. In about 10 minutes the 'copter returned and landed at base ops and not the hospital. We later learned the pilot was in great shape with some minor scrapes.

I never did see any newspaper articles or TV coverage of the crash. The official cause of the crash was listed as engine failure during takeoff. 58-0789 had only been with the 27th FIS for about a month and half before it crashed. It came to the 27th from 4756 ADW at Tyndall AFB.

Bill