EJECT ~ EJECT ~ EJECT

EJECT-EJECT-EJECT

Steve,

I’m looking for the H-43 crew that rescued me after my ejection from my F-4 near Ubon RTAFB in 1968:

Here are the details of my ejection and rescue:

Who: 1/Lt Peter R. Nash

Place: Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. Approximately 6-8 mile final approach

Date: 19 SEP 68, approximately midnight local time

Aircraft: F-4D 435^th TFS, 8 TFW

Rescue Aircraft: H-43 Pedro

I was the Copilot of the second aircraft in “BUICK” Flight returning from an Armed Reconnaissance Mission in the PAC 1 Combat Area of North Vietnam. As we approached the base, the pilot elected to do an Airborne Radar Approach to the runway.

In back, I had my head down in the radar hood, but couldn’t acquire the runway. When I looked up, I could see the VASI lights, high in my field of view and all red! On the intercom, I yelled “we’re low ~ we’re low”, but received no answer. Immediately I pulled back on the stick and advanced the throttles to “Full Military Power” [throttles in the F4 rear cockpit can not engage the afterburners], but too late as I saw trees illuminated in the landing lights. Instinctively on the intercom, I yelled “EJECT-EJECT-EJECT” as the aircraft mushed into the trees, I pulled the “D” ring.

My Martin-Baker ejection seat malfunctioned, but ejected me through the rear canopy, saving my life. I was at the lower end of my ejection envelope resulting in a failure of my chute to fully deploy before I entered the trees. I bounced through the trees, breaking branches before I lost consciousness. When I awoke about 45 minutes later I was on the ground, with my ejection seat only 2 feet away. I then managed to activate my Survival Beeper before loosing consciousness for a second time.

Unconscious, I was located by an H-43 from DET3 38ARRS. The Rescue Crew released me from my chute, hoisted me aboard and delivered me to Medical Personnel waiting at the base. Unfortunately, the Pilot, Major Roger Clemens, failed to eject.

Having suffered 17 fractures, I was medically discharged from the USAF. I attended Medical School on the G.I. Bill then rejoined the USAF in 1974 becoming a Flight Surgeon and eventually qualifying as an Aircraft Commander in the F4 and A-10. I retired from active duty in 1992 after 20 years of service and went into private practice.

Anyone who knows about or participated in this rescue, please contact Pete Nash at prkmnash@aol.com so he can thank his Rescuers.