In early 2007 I got the following note from Lee Corbin, a former C-141 pilot at
McChord
Back in March of 1988, I was the aircraft commander on a mission down to
Australia. We took along a photo team from the Air Force, with the intention of
getting some shots for future recruiting posters. For several hours, we flew in
formation with a RAAF C-130 over Sydney harbor and the local area. Plenty of
Opera House and Harbor Bridge shots.
The ship number was 65-0255. As far as crediting the photographer, the slides are
all stamped "Fred Jones". That was Garfield F. Jones of the 1365th Photography
Squadron, based in Norton AFB.
Lee Corbin
97th MAS, 446th MAW
McChord AFB
1982-1994
Here's The Photos:
Loading up to go "somewhere"
Source:USAF Photo
Copyright © - © James Johnson
This aircraft was destroyed in a mid-air collision with another C-141 ( 66-0142 ) on 1 Dec 1992.
The mission was scheduled as a 4-ship night air refueling/ airdrop training
mission. Weather at the time of the incident was VMC but without a visible
horizon. The tanker had just reached the end of the track and had completed a
180-degree turn with the lead C-141 in trail at FL255.
Lead completed refueling and backed off into what was later described as an
"unusually close" post-refueling position and descended to FL250. The #2 aircraft
completed refueling. During #2's back away, the pilot used 30 degree of bank,
creating a 22 degree heading change, and a relative closure rate of 250'/sec (150
knots).
He allowed the aircraft to descend below lead, recognized his altitude, and
pulled up from directly below the lead aircraft. The impact broke both sets of
wing boxes; the two aircraft broke up and crashed, with the loss of all 13
crewmembers
The lead aircraft received a SKE proximity warning less than 3 seconds before
impact. The #2 aircraft did not receive a proximity warning. Both crews had lost
sight of the other aircraft before the collision.
This information was provided by Paul Hansen.
