F-104C "FG-907" 434 TFS George AFB 1959

F-104C, construction number 183-1195, model 483-04-05, US serial number 56-0907, built by Lockheed
accepted December 9, 1958 by the USAF, delivery in January 1959 to 479th TFW 434th TFS
crashed January 29, 1959 at George AFB, California, pilot Eddie Skelton ejected safely.

It was the aircraft of the Commander of the 434th TFS, The Red Devils, LtCol John Rosenbaum. When it crashed it was flown by the 434th Ops Officer, Capt Eddie "Ed" Skelton.
Leading a four ship formation, Ed was taking off on the long runway 30 at George AFB. As he rotated and the gear started to come up he had a compressor stall and a complete loss of power.
He pulled the aircraft vertical, to about 1500 feet, called "Ejecting" and went out horizontal to the ground. They had downward ejection in those days.
His chute opened horizontally, and it did three oscillations after deploying before he hit the ground about three hundred meters from the end of the runway.
The 104 nosed over and hit the ground dead flat about six hundred meters from the runway end.
Although it exploded on impact the complete outline of an F-104 was visible on the desert floor for months after the accident.
Ed Skelton was unhurt apart from minor abrasions. He was flying again within a week. 1st F-104C loss in the world.

copyright @ Jim Flemming