I was standing in front of 539th ops with helmet in hand waiting for 57-531 to return for my first F-106 back seat ride with Capt. Crawford, QC officer, and our MA-1 metro came by and said, "Turn in your gear, 531 just crashed in north Jersey into a house. A woman and child left the house thru a rear basement door unscratched. Pilot ejected, walked a pipeline to a little town police station and a helicopter was dispatched to bring the pilot home. Turned out the payload bay doors stuck open and ATC would not turn the A/C over land as they thought the WSEM was a nuke. Aircraft was finally turned towards shore and ran out of fuel and crashed after safe ejection. At a later time I did ride in 57-2528 also with Capt. Crawford, uneventful flight but the optimum "Gee Wiz" for me.

I was standing in front of 539th ops with helmet in hand waiting for 57-531 to return for my first F-106 back seat ride with Capt. Crawford, QC officer, and our MA-1 metro came by and said, "Turn in your gear, 531 just crashed in north Jersey into a house. A woman and child left the house thru a rear basement door unscratched. Pilot ejected, walked a pipeline to a little town police station and a helicopter was dispatched to bring the pilot home. Turned out the payload bay doors stuck open and ATC would not turn the A/C over land as they thought the WSEM was a nuke. Aircraft was finally turned towards shore and ran out of fuel and crashed after safe ejection. At a later time I did ride in 57-2528 also with Capt. Crawford, uneventful flight but the optimum "Gee Wiz" for me.

I was standing in front of 539th ops with helmet in hand waiting for 57-531 to return for my first F-106 back seat ride with Capt. Crawford, QC officer, and our MA-1 metro came by and said, "Turn in your gear, 531 just crashed in north Jersey into a house. A woman and child left the house thru a rear basement door unscratched. Pilot ejected, walked a pipeline to a little town police station and a helicopter was dispatched to bring the pilot home. Turned out the payload bay doors stuck open and ATC would not turn the A/C over land as they thought the WSEM was a nuke. Aircraft was finally turned towards shore and ran out of fuel and crashed after safe ejection. At a later time I did ride in 57-2528 also with Capt. Crawford, uneventful flight but the optimum "Gee Wiz" for me.

I was standing in front of 539th ops with helmet in hand waiting for 57-531 to return for my first F-106 back seat ride with Capt. Crawford, QC officer, and our MA-1 metro came by and said, "Turn in your gear, 531 just crashed in north Jersey into a house. A woman and child left the house thru a rear basement door unscratched. Pilot ejected, walked a pipeline to a little town police station and a helicopter was dispatched to bring the pilot home. Turned out the payload bay doors stuck open and ATC would not turn the A/C over land as they thought the WSEM was a nuke. Aircraft was finally turned towards shore and ran out of fuel and crashed after safe ejection. At a later time I did ride in 57-2528 also with Capt. Crawford, uneventful flight but the optimum "Gee Wiz" for me.

I was her Crew Chief at the 177Th Fighter Wing (MSgt Robert G Thurlow )

I was her Crew Chief at the 177Th Fighter Wing (MSgt Robert G Thurlow )

I was her Crew Chief at the 177Th Fighter Wing (MSgt Robert G Thurlow )

I was her Crew Chief at the 177Th Fighter Wing (MSgt Robert G Thurlow )

I was her Crew Chief at the 177Th Fighter Wing (MSgt Robert G Thurlow )

I was her Crew Chief at the 177Th Fighter Wing (MSgt Robert G Thurlow )