Phantom 249
18 NOV 1968, An F-4D #66-0249 from the 433rd TFS, Ubon RTAB, was badly struck by 37mm Anti-Aircraft fire. The damage rendered the stricken Phantom uncontrollable, and pilot Major Ben "Ray" Battle ordered his WSO 1Lt Robert "Kenny" Boone to eject.
The WSO pulled his handle and fired away from the stricken Phantom on his ejection seat.
After Kenny ejected, strangely... Ray immediately noticed the aircraft exhibited slightly more controllability and elected to remain with his aircraft. Continuing on solo to Ubon AB, where he executed a safe and successful gear-up landing.
Kenny watched helplessly as the Phantom he had just ejected from continued homeward bound, as his parachute settled into the Laotian jungle below. Thankfully, poor Kenny was rescued shortly afterward. Bruised, but unhurt.
It would've been an interesting conversation once Kenny returned to base...
“Kenny Boone and I were flying a fast-mover FAC mission along the Ho Chi Min trail in Laos. It was an orientation ride for Kenny as he was newly assigned to my unit. We were at 4000 feet and Kenny was flying the airplane when I heard an explosion, the aircraft shuddered and the front windscreen was covered in what turned out to be hydraulic fluid. My sensation was that the aircraft was out of control and I ordered Kenny to eject which he did. Instinctively, I took the stick and throttles in hand and to my amazement, the aircraft was flyable. I called for help for Kenny and headed back for Thailand where we were stationed. I was given the option of ejecting or landing gear up as the landing gear would not come down. I elected to land gear up and catch the runway wire with my tail hook.. I have 150 aircraft carrier landings and thought I could easily make an arrested landing on the runway. I pulled the power off just as I touched down and the aircraft settled onto the wire cutting it. The aircraft slid down the runway and veered off to the right before fish-hooking to the right and stopping. It caught on fire and I jumped out safely. As you know Kenny was recovered after spending a nervous night hanging in a tree in Laos In retrospect, My ordering Kenny to eject was a mistake which I have always regretted. I felt at the time I was saving his life and I intended to eject after he did. We both survived the incident for which I am grateful.”
- Ray Battle -
I was at Ubon when this happened. I was standing out in front of FMS watching it come in. The pilot left the two wing fuel tanks on to absorb damage from hitting runway. The front seater hopped out just in time to keep from getting “slimed” with fire fighting foam from Pedro (fire fighting helicopter). As I recall the F-4 had a MiG kill to its credit. Didn’t realize to ever flew again. Thanks for this story as it brings bank a lot of memories.
I remember that 1985 crash. I was stationed at Tyndall AFB at the NORAD SE-ROCC from ’83 to ’85. I was the Weapons Controller Tech on that training mission. It went down in warning area W-151 just shortly after takeoff.
I was on Crash Recovery at Ubon when 249 bellied in. We picked it up, boxed it and sent it home for rebuild. The story of the GIB (guy in back) spending the night in a tree was the talk of the base for a while. I have a picture of 249 on the trailer.
This aircraft was assigned to the 308th TTS at Homestead AFB when it flew its final mission out of Tyndall that night in 1985, both pilots were lost. I was a Crew Chief there at the time and remember it being a sad day when we heard.
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