F-16 crash kills pilot, USS Roosevelt searching for overboard sailor
We were remiss in posting this sooner, but a Wisconsin Air National Guard F-16 crashed in the Michigan Upper Peninsula Tuesday night. We were hoping for news of the safe recovery of the pilot, but it was announced yesterday that they have found the pilot and he has died.
The missing pilot of a Madison-based F-16 Fighting Falcon jet was found dead after crashing Tuesday night in the wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Wisconsin National Guard said Thursday.
The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing will not be releasing the pilot’s name until 24 hours after the family is notified, per Department of Defense policy, according to a statement from the National Guard.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with family during this difficult time,” said Col. Bart Van Roo, commander of the 115th Fighter Wing. “Today is a day for mourning, and the 115th Fighter Wing along with the entire Wisconsin National Guard stands with the pilot’s family as we grieve the loss of a great Airman, and patriot.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The statement did not say if the pilot, with the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field, ejected from the jet before it crashed at around 8 p.m. Tuesday in the northeastern corner of Delta County, Michigan.
Thanks to KoB for bringing this to our attention. Source; Wisconsin State Journal
While that sad news was coming in, a lookout aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) spotted a sailor in the water off the coast of Southern California about 0730 hours yesterday. One sailor came up missing during an accountability check and a search is underway for the missing sailor. Next of kin has been notified and US Navy and Coast Guard ships are involved in the search and recovery operation.
Thanks to Jeff LPH 3 for sending this one in.
Source; Navy Times
Category: Air Force, Air National Guard, Guest Post, Navy, Search and Rescue
Sad news indeed to finish the work week. If the sailor has also passed, may they both rest in peace
Overcast sky and a night EVAC – not good conditions up there. Sad event.
Tough news to accept. We all know the risks of serving
yet we do it anyway.
Sad.
Well…just….DAMN! Sure was praying that the Airedale would be found, alive and well. Godspeed and Farewell Zoomie. May God’s Peace bring His Comfort to the Family and Squadron Mates.
Prayers offered up for the safe finding of the Sailor. And for the safety of the SAR Troops looking for him. To paraphrase; “Oh Lord Your Ocean is so big and my life jacket is so small!”
On an kinda sorta related note, the loss of competent Service Members, I got a piece of news on yesterday past. Some of y’all may recall me making mention of the young folks I have mentored over the years. Spoke with the Mom of one of the young men I’ve had under my wing since about 2007. W______ was an outstanding Gearhead (Rotary and Fixed Wing) on Carl Vinson. He had planned on re-upping this week for another 4 years. The election changed his mind. He said there is no way that he could serve under Joe Biden, or (his words) That Whore. He will be outprocessing this week and be home on the 20th. If the election is overturned he will go back in. Sadly, there is another large group on that Ship that will be leaving at the same time, for the same stated reasons. Wonder how many others, across all the services, are out there that think the same?
Sounds reasonable. I delayed my 1980 reenlistment until after Jimmeh was defeated. Four years of him was enough. Well, too much.
UPDATE on the two stories shared by KoB and Jeff:
“Family Identifies Missing Theodore Roosevelt Sailor
Geoff Ziezulewicz”
https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/12/11/family-identifies-missing-theodore-roosevelt-sailor/
“The parents of a sailor missing from the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and feared to have gone overboard Thursday have identified him as 20-year-old Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Ethan Goolsby of San Antonio.”
“Goolsby graduated from basic training in January and the TR was his first assignment, according to his parents, Kelly and Michelle Goolsby.”
“A Navy official confirmed Friday that Goolsby is the missing sailor, but a multiship search for the sailor continues and no further official information has been released.”
“A U.S. 3rd Fleet statement released Thursday night announced that a sailor was missing from a command-wide muster after a ship lookout spotted a sailor in the water at about 7:30 a.m. that morning.”
“The Goolsbys said they were notified about their only child going missing on Thursday evening, about 12 hours later.”
“Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing Grounds Flights Following F-16 Crash”
https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/12/11/wisconsin-air-national-guards-115th-fighter-wing-grounds-flights-following-f-16-crash/
“The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing has grounded flights indefinitely following the death of an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot in a crash earlier this week, according to 115th Fighter Wing commander Col. Bart Van Roo.”
“It is grounded based on what we determine to be a safe time for us to fly again,” Van Roo said. “Obviously we conduct a mission that we need to continue, so we are slowly and deliberately looking at all things until we determine that we are safe to fly again.”
Rest In Peace, Ethan Goolsby. Condolences to his Family for their loss of their only child.
Condolences to the family of the Pilot who lost his life.
ANOTHER UPDATE:
“115th Fighter Wing Releases Name Of Pilot Who Died In Crash”
https://www.nbc15.com/2020/12/11/115th-fighter-wing-releases-name-of-pilot-who-died-in-crash/
“The 115th Fighter Wing has released the name of the Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot who died in Tuesday’s crash during a training session in the Upper Peninsula.”
“In a Facebook post, the pilot was identified as Capt. Durwood “Hawk” Jones, of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 37-year-old joined the Air National Guard in 2011 and graduated from F-16 basic qualifying training five years ago.”
The Air National Guard noted Jones was a decorated combat veteran, having deployed to Japan and Korea in 2015 and 2017, respectively. He also was deployed to Aghanistan in 2019 as part of Operation Freedom Sentinel.”
Rest In Peace, CPT Jones. Condolences to his Family.
What a sad time to lose a Family Member. So heartbreaking for his Family and the Salior’s Family.
I still offer prayers for the Sailor to be found alive. As for the fallen pilot, may he have perpetual blue skies and fair winds.