| Date: 13 January 1965 |
| Aircraft type: F-8C Crusader |
| Serial Number: 147011 |
| Military Unit: VF-24 |
| Service: USN |
| Home Base: USS Hancock |
| Name(s): |
| Lt(jg) Thomas Christopher Irwin (Survived) |
| Upon landing back from an air intercept training flight a Crusader suffered a tail hook failure as it snagged the Hancock’s No 4 wire and went over the side. The aircraft was not flying fast enough for a safe ejection so the pilot stayed with the F-8 as it ditched. The afterburner cut in just as the aircraft hit the water and the engine exploded. The canopy was jettisoned and Lt Irwin swam away from the aircraft before it sank. He was rescued by one of the carrier’s SH-2 Seasprites and was back on the deck of the Hancock within two minutes of ditching. |
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