F-111 Crew Ejection! | Colonel Rob Kyrouac

[@Aircrewinterview]

"General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark" by Don Logan is well worth picking up amzn.to/46zo4Am

[@ILSRWY4]

LOVE that book... his book on Air National Guard F-4s is great too!

[@truppe6886]

That aircraft was actually the first F111 I ever worked on. I helped put the engine that failed in that jet. I hooked up most of the firewall connections. The engine had been removed for oil consumption but it passed test cell and was given back to us. We put it back in the aircraft and the mishap happened that night. We had done an extended shift just to get it ready to fly. I had just gotten to the base in August of that year. I had been a F15 mechanic for nines years. Four of that was at the test cell and Hush House at Langley AFB and in Iceland. My baptism in the F111 was an accident investigation. Great story!! And we all were very happen to hear the crew got out of the aircraft safely. Still working on F15s The aircraft was a true mechanics plane and not the easiest to work on. I do miss it though. I was absolutely blazingly fast.

[@LRRPFco52]

Crazy. "F-111F 70-2412 Destroyed when crashed September 22, 1993, at the Melrose Range, near Floyd, New Mexico. The aircraft had a right engine failure over the range and was turning back to Cannon AFb, NM. A resulting fire started to affect the control of the aircraft, so the crew zoomed to 12 000ft and ejected. The pilot, Major Robby Kyorauc and WSO, Captain Gregory Wilson survived. # 3 main bearing of the right engine failed.” Source: Aviation Safety Net

[@patrickflohe7427]

@@LRRPFco52 Yep, that’s what they said in the video.

[@LRRPFco52]

@@patrickflohe7427 Summary from the mishap investigation.

[@1mmickk]

@@LRRPFco52 Bloody Apprentices! ;)

[@markconley9279]

AH-HA!!!

[@dannygarrett2447]

All these years and I never knew my uncle Rob had to eject from a plane. I have always loved his personality.

[@tommynikon2283]

My dad is a member of the Caterpillar Club also. Bailed out of a F-100 over France in the early 1960’s. Engine blew up; glided from 45,000ft- punched at 10k. And still around at 92.

[@FourMaxK1]

Thank him please.

[@jimdavis6833]

Do you know what outfit he was in? Could it have been the USAF's 20th fighter wing out of the UK?

[@mitchcampbell3942]

I enjoyed the interview with Colonel Kerouac. I was stationed at Edwards AFB (flight test center) from late 1970 thru 1972. I was weapons mechanic assigned to the 36th TAC Fighter Wing. I was trained and worked mostly on the F-111. This video brought sad memories of two heroic test pilots, Major Hurt and Major Boline who were killed when the F-111 they were piloting went down on a practice mission over China Lake. Although they ejected and the capsule separated, the capsule shoot failed to open and they were killed. I knew these pilots as I was part of the crew that saw them off safely and return after their mission safely. Although many years ago I have never forgotten these two brave pilots.

[@johnturnbull7798]

Not just a great story, a great story teller who brings the whole story to life

[@MP-pz9oe]

I performed maintenance on that F-111 as an Egress technician, specialty code 2A672 ; 27 CRS. Happy that you ejected succesfully.😅

[@khcopter]

I used to work on F11 11’s from 1971 to 1977. Only had one capsule ejection when I was in the military. Those boys roll down a hill. But both survived. Good story though thank you for sharing that!!

[@michaeloneal6733]

My mom's cousin was shot down in 1972 while flying his F111a. He and his co-pilot were MIA for years before finally being found, identified and sent back home.

[@mikehagan4320]

This Man is quick to take Responsibility for his mistakes. He is Confident enough in himself to make light of those mistakes in front of people. Seems like a Solid Man to me. Best Wishes from Montana M.H

[@matthewnewnham-runner-writer]

Thanks, @Aircrewinterview, for another excellent interview with Rob 'KY'. A few notes from my own F-111 experience (brief though it was, with my last flight in Nov 1982). My recollection is that the ejection sequence resulted in 18 Gs on initial firing of the ejection rocket, and 11 Gs on ground impact - as long as the ejection capsule parachute and airbags were working, that is. Unfortunately for our wing commander Col Ernie Colman at Mtn Home AFB, the airbags didn't deploy correctly when he and his WSO had to eject (due to an engine fire on takeoff). As a result, Col Coleman's back was broken at mid-back, so severely that he was paralysed from mid-chest for the rest of his life. There was eventually a lawsuit lodged against General Dynamics and it found that they were liable for a manufacturing fault, so at least Col Coleman received some level of financial compensation. Once again, I really salute Rob for his candour and humour in relating his story. Highly engaging, and rich with valuable lessons for current and future aircrew.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@shaun7057]

My dad worked on these in the airforce in the 80's. Man I miss him so nick R.i.p dad

[@larrystutts20]

My first duty station was Mtn Home AFB, Id. I worked Autopilot and Instrument shop on the F111F in 1977, later we got the F111A from Nellis, NV some of which were modified to EF111s before I got transferred to Plattsburg, NY and the FB111. I got out in 1984. I always liked being able to get the aardvarks back into the air. They always flew better when they flew every day, and were literal earth pigs if they sat on the ground - as in becoming a hanger queen sitting for more than 30 days. So many memories.

[@royconley9651]

Larry, I was in the same shop. Did you know Ti Tom (Thomas)? That man knew everything about that plane and all of the stuff to keep it in the air photographic memory but hard to understand unless you really listened. I got to mhafb in late 1976.

[@jnbfrancisco]

I may have been your FTD instructor. I became one of two instrument / autopilot instructors at Mt Home AFB in 1977 at the time of the change over to the F111F to the F111A. I took the early out program in 1980, the one where you get nothing after 10 years. I did not volunteer to be an instructor and couldn't get out of that job so I got out of the USAF in 1980. I loved fixing those F111Ds but instructor not so much.

[@RICHARD_WASD]

My dad's last duty station was MHAFB as an EF-111 pilot. He said any and ALL electronic repairs on those planes were intense.

[@tommyjenkins7453]

To all you electronics guys,,how did you like it when that air to water heat exchanger leaked on the F model and flooded the electronics 😢 That was one F Ed up design feature

[@davidcrook2771]

I was a young avionics tech at Carswell AFB, TX, in 1968-69 when the first FB-111's were being delivered by General Dynamics, across the runway. We had one crash off the end of the runway one night, I don't believe the crew survived. In typical military wisdom, following months of advanced systems training, I was sent to Thailand because I was only an E-3, E-4 and above went to Plattsburg. NY, with the newly formed wing and I never worked on F-111's again. The FB-111 was so modern (then) compared to the B-52's and KC135's that I also worked on.

[@patrickflohe7427]

That was my aircraft, when it was stationed at RAF Lakenheath. I saw it and 70-2362 both side by side at McChord Air Force Base about 3-4 weeks before it crashed. It was my baby! I almost wanted to puke when I heard that it crashed. 70-2362 was the first F-111F, and it was my buddy Joe’s aircraft.

[@wrenchops719]

Almost 30 years later & it's Incredible to hear what actually happened. We were stationed at Cannon when this happened; my dad worked avionics with the 428th and knew a handful of people at the 522nd, this was dinner conversation for a while within our house & with my friends at school. Thankfully it was a successful punch!

[@jacques8971]

I watch a lot of your interviews because I’m a retired RAF pilot and I know a number of the guys and galls in your vids. I enjoy them all. But I have to say, this was the most entertaining one I’ve seen. What a brilliant way to tell the story. Many thanks to you and Col Rob.

[@Barzins1]

Amazing story and a wonderful story teller. My old man was a fighter pilot and he was a good story teller too. We lost him last year and listening to this gentleman made me remember my old man. Thanks for your service sir.

[@lynottfan4four826]

That was 30 minutes of my day well spent, incredible. Thank you.

[@FB-111A]

As a former FB-111 Nav I appreciate you sharing this. Thanks

[@patrickflohe7427]

Awesome! I worked on a few FB-111s in my day….

[@denniswofford]

I flew with Rob when we were both T-37 instructor pilots at Reese, AFB back in the 1980's. I left to fly KC-135s before he got his follow-on assignment. Didn't know that he wound up flying the Aardvark...certainly never heard about his ejection. Glad to hear he's doing well.

[@regprewitt7637]

What years at REE? I was a Tweet IP '79-82 (B & E Flts then F Flt Commander) before going to PIT?

[@denniswofford]

@@regprewitt7637 Sounds like you preceded my time there? I was at Reese from '84 to '88.

[@PaperworkNinja]

I remember this! I had been with the 429th for about a month when that happened.

[@glitchout0137]

I lived in Clovis at the time this happened. Dad was with the 27th for F-16s. I'm glad you made it out. The aardvark was such an enigma to me at that point. My brain was amazed with the sweep wing and "escape pod." (I was like 8, lol)

[@hoagybob]

Totally fantastic interview!

[@Me2Lancer]

Thanks for sharing this post ejection briefing. In 1968 and 69 I worked at General Dynamics, now Lockheed on the flight line prepping F111 aircraft for delivery to the Air Force. Glad you survived to tell this story, and pleased to hear emergency systems worked as designed.

[@beerandboats1]

I was at RAF Lakenheath from 78’ to 82’. Loved that aircraft and watching the elephant walks.

[@tommyjenkins7453]

I was with the first group from MTN Home with the F111Fs in April of77 worked ECS Lakenheath wasn't a bad tour actually enjoyed it😮

[@randallreed9048]

You are a great storyteller, Rob. And, thank you for your service, sir!

[@dougdauer5562]

Ky....hope u and Deb are doing good...lv u bro...beetle

[@jeffhester1443]

A stark reminder how peacetime can be anything but peaceful in an instant. God bless you sir and thank you for your service.

[@joaquinltaif5744]

Just amazing!! This guy is very funny and the story is incredible! Congratulations

[@constitutionalist938]

Former Aerospace Crash/Rescue, I was told in the mid/late 80's that nobody had ever survived ejecting from a F-111. Not sure I ever believed this but that is what I was told at Chanute AFB during a training course. Glad to hear these men survived and were not massively injured!

[@harrystone8847]

Nah, not true. I personally knew of at least 2 ejections where the aircrew survived, prior to 1980

[@marktimmerman7857]

The Aussies have a good record of successful F-111 ejections

[@SD-unlimited]

1981 - Portsmouth, NH one went down outside of Pease AFB with 2 pilots ejecting safely. The crash destroyed an apartment building but only a few minor injuries and no lives lost. Pretty amazing.

[@ScampCamper]

mid-late 80's there were 3 successful ejections just at my base, Cannon AFB, NM. The 4th was not successful but if I remember the accident report correctly, they initiated the ejection sequence after the aircraft was already skimming the ground (they flew it too low on the range)

[@leeburks3048]

I could listen to him tell stories forever

[@marlinrunions1120]

I was a Security Policeman based at Carswell AFB near Ft. Worth, Tx in 1967. In Oct that year an F-111 crashed near Bowie, Tx approx. 100 miles from the base where it had taken off earlier. The crew ejected safely. I was one of several volunteers from my squadron, the 7th Security Police Squadron at Carswell AFB who went out to secure the crash site. While there a rep from General Dynamics told us that this was the 1st time that ejection system was used in an actual emergency. The capsule as it was called came down about 4 miles from the crash site.Obviously, everyone concerned was happy that it worked. Never heard what caused the plane to crash but someone said that the last words on the CVR "Oh Shit"

[@ianjones7486]

I was recently being shown through an F1-11 in Australia and the navigator showing me the plane ejected in New Zealand. He told of the violence of the ejection as well. Great story

[@charlesdavis7940]

Great story, well told. I loved how he counted up his errors and talked about them, like any real pilot does. Thank you.

[@scuddrunner1]

WOW! What a story! Thank you for sharing, just amazing. My dad was a pilot involved in a C-47 crash in VN, the only survivor and to this day he has a hard time driving over bridges.

[@rogerbloxham5381]

You should try and get an interview with Rick Adams. He was a Navy pilot in 1965 with VF-162 ,the first American to be shot down by a Sam and survive it. The next year in 1966 he was shot down a second time over Hanoi, they managed to pick him up and he survived that one and they grounded him after that from flying combat!

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

"Entertaining" is a gross understatement! A most amusing tale of an F-111 ejection!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@SCP-POOL]

Gentleman I sincerely thank you for your service & the sacrifices you & your families have made & continue to make for our freedom. It is a debt that can never truly be repaid.

[@ericmiddleton8367]

What a great story teller! Brilliant stuff!

[@christophersmith3007]

I was stationed at Cannon AFB and worked in the egress shop from 1995-1999 as the 522nd Fireballs, 523rd Crusaders, and the 524th Hounds were transitioning from the F-111s to the F-16s. The bilge pump, though operated by the control stick, didn't work all that well at siphoning water out of the cockpit. What was interesting with the F-111, besides the full cockpit ejection system, was the amount of airbags on the aircraft - from self-righting bags to impact attenuation bags to flotation bags. It was always fun when it came time to change those bags! We would also get a lot of calls about the canopies not going up on their own when opened, when the canopy jack was only supposed to assist in opening the canopy. These were some awesome aircraft and there are probably still some stains in the ramp from this pretty birds!

[@popesplanes6241]

Lovely story. I used to be lucky enough to watch the F-111's while fly fishing in Northampton (uk) in the late 80's/early 90's. These things used to fly so low in pairs I was nearly level with them as they came belting past then had to pull up to miss the hill line and trees. They were probably higher than that but did look impressive! Especially as a youngster.

[@mgarizona9939]

Excellent interview these F111 pilots definitely have great respect for there aircraft

[@lancelehman1105]

This is the best story I have heard in a very long time! I have always wanted to know more about the F-111 ejection capsule thing too. This guy is great at telling the story! Super!

[@BUNKERJR53]

He told the story and so well that it made me feel like I was in that capsule. Amazing story. It's a shame that he hasn't reconnected with his co-pilot.

[@dwinterx]

You never know, this video may well be the catalyst for them hooking back up. Perhaps though they don't really want to, you can't imagine it would be that tricky with facebook and other social media available. Great story / video though.

[@jimdavis6833]

The guy was a WSO, not his co-pilot.

[@jonnyjungle8096]

Yeah I think him and Pud definitely deserve a beer together👍🏽🍺

[@mikelastname]

Aside from the spinal injury, great to hear all the things that did go well. Yeah, some small oops along the way, but you saved the crew and the town.

[@428buccaneer]

Great Story and I was there at CAFB at the time of this incident. I was in the 428th Buccaneers and started that squadron back in 1990 with only 12 of us assigned including the commander and 1st shirt. I did a PCS from Pease AFB, NH. The FB-111A aircraft that left Pease back then were designated F-111G models when they hit the deck at Cannon. I was on F-111s my entire career in the AF from 1975-1997. I can say that I started and closed a squadron which was the 428th. I went on a crash detail back in 1976 from Cannon to Artesia NM to recover classified equipment from a downed F-111D that the crew had to punch out of while on a FCF flight. At that time, it was the first successful ejection from a F-111 over mach. It made a huge mess and the main fuselage hit the only road within miles and took out half the road, made a huge 20-foot crater and took out a lot of cattle that were nearby because on all the fuel aboard on the that flight. Glad you guys made it out in one piece. Thanks for serving... and if your wings don't sweep, you ain't shit! :)

[@rickmccarty3233]

Interesting, inspiring and enjoyable story. Utmost respect for what our military aircrew do - risks involved even in peacetime. Almost to a person, those I have met, especially pilots, loved what they did despite the risks. I am an AF brat and we were stationed at Cannon between '71 and '74. My father had a history with the 111 going back to the last half of the '60s when we were stationed at Wright-Pat - he was in the 111 SPO. Reliability & Maintainability Officer for the program. In that role he was involved in many of the accident investigations during that time (He got to spend a lot of time at Nellis and other places.). In 1970 he did a tour in Vietnam and during that time he was temporarily recalled back to the States for at least one investigation as I remember. Once completing his tour (AC-130 WSO, 16th SOS) we wound up PCSing to Cannon in '71, where he joined the 522nd and actually flew 111's operationally as a WSO. I still have a couple of Fireball patches in my collection 🙂 If I recall, during the period we were there, they were flying the A model, and toward the end of our stay had started transitioning to the D. Among the coolest things I remember doing was getting to take a spin in one of the simulators. We went into a single story building where inside there were two (maybe 3) identical simulator "rooms", each packed with quite a large number of blue computer cabinets, a console, and the simulator cockpit module. I sat in the right seat next to my father who gave me some quick guidance and then I started to handle the stick. Within a few seconds he informed me that I had just crashed. I knew a number of 111 pilots/WSOs during that time, and also some of the ground crew folks (one of the crew chiefs was my Scoutmaster). Also, interestingly enough, my Clovis High School drafting teacher the first year I was there up and quit teaching and went the OCS route so he could "fly the F-111". Later during my time there, my father asked me if I knew this guy - apparently he had just shown up assigned to Cannon as a new 111 pilot. I don't think he was in my father's squadron - I believe he might have been in the 524th. So that was kind of a cool thing. I recall various unfortunate incidents with the 111 which occurred during my time there. One that sticks out for me was the time a crew flew their 111 into the ground at night following not making a crucial altitude setting change after passing a railroad track landmark (I looked it up - was 12/23/1973, tail number 68-0113, D model). Memory is fuzzy on whether this was my Scoutmaster's aircraft, but the night it happened he got called away and he was very upset about it. There were a couple of other things I learned about the crash site situation at the time which I won't mention here, but wish I hadn't heard. Just a sad event all around. However, I always thought it was a way cool aircraft and feeling very proud that my father had not only been part of "creating" it but also experienced flying the final product operationally (I've heard the story of "remapping the world" for the 111 many times, the story of the wing pivot investigations, about the development of the TFR, insights on some of the subcontractors, and other interesting tidbits about the program.) One thing my father related to me about the 111 was at the time there were often challenges getting pilots to trust the technology. And some accidents were traced back to this issue. The 111, for its day, had some of the most sophisticated avionics anywhere - several capabilities custom-developed for the aircraft. If nothing else, the F-111 was a pivot point in transitioning to today's highly sophisticated, amazing avionics, radar tech, etc. A lot of what we have today goes back to the F-111 program. Heck, even the F-14 "borrowed" quite a bit from the 111 (My father also told me I'd be surprised how many F-14 parts were interchangeable with the F-111.). I only recall one story he told me about an actual experience he had during an F-111 sortie, where they almost ejected (or worse). Apparently at 23,000 feet they experienced a double flameout. His pilot immediately put the aircraft into a dive and attempted to restart the engines. They recovered at 3000. When I asked him how close they came to ejecting vs hitting the ground, he basically said "You don't want to know.". I've been back to Clovis just once since '74 - I think 2008. As I recall there were two 111's on pedestals off base. One was in a memorial park in Clovis and the other as you're driving into Portales. I think my father recognized the tail number of the 111 in Clovis as one he flew. Anyway, Clovis was an interesting place. I still remember pulling the tumbleweeds out from underneath my car in the mornings when heading off to school. I remember the occasions where the aroma from the feed yards visited our neighborhood. I also remember the parking lot at the high school where pretty much every truck had a rifle rack in it - often complete with rifle. My have times changed...

[@markthiess1893]

Great candid and honest interview Rob…as an ex F111 driver with the RAAF I can totally relate to all of the hindsight “oops moments”. Glad to hear you had safe landing and good physical recovery, cheers from down under!

[@ptonpc]

An amazing story very well told. I hope he and Pug get back in touch.

[@ericcsuf]

Great story, well told. You're still alive after a long, dangerous career and I'm sure your sense of humor is the reason for much of that.

[@paulvanthomme3209]

Great episode. I worked at Grumman in the 80's on the modification of the F111A to the EF111A. I always wondered how the crew's would survive an ejection. The capsule/ cockpit is huge. Thanks for this episode.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Paul.

[@davidclemens1578]

I served from 82 to 86 stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base , which had those A models, as a weapons systems mechanic and loader. We were the training Squadron and our aircraft were the ones that were converted initially and we received aircraft from one of the combat squadrons which I think became a new Squadron with the EF models. We had two aircraft go down during that time. One of them was the wing Commander Colonel Coleman who had to retire of spinal injuries as a result of one of the capsule airbags not inflating. The wso also received injuries but not as severe. The other plane I was told flew into the side of the mountain as a result of compressor stall. The pieces of the aircraft were brought back by a large helicopter which it was a sight in itself. And they were putting them in one of our hangers to try figure out what happened. It was not a pretty site to see one of those what I consider beautiful aircraft bent and twisted and broken into pieces. It was a sad time because both Pilots perished.

[@dejake4589]

Hey Paul, I was at Grumman in Calverton in 80-81 and remember seeing an F111 or two come in for retrofit. I was with Hughes working with the A6 at the time. Great time in the aerospace business.

[@barryfrancis7421]

Truly entertaining, the colonel is a great storyteller and a humble man.

[@sonnyburnett8725]

Don’t know when this happened but flew with three F-111 guys from Cannon at our airline from 80 to almost 86. Great group of guys.

[@kevinmartin4543]

Great story. I grew up around the F-111. I was a kid at RAF Lakenheath in April 1986 when our planes took off to go bomb Libya. I was outside boxing a friend. He went on to be a Butkus award winner…and my Dad was the Chief of Supply at Clovis AFB when this incident occurred. Love the Aardvark!

[@mattboggs6304]

That's cool. I was at RAF Fairford that day. My dad was on one of the tankers that flew on the mission.

[@simonpkershaw]

I do like a good ejection story! Many careers ago I was in charge of a simulation being developed for the F22 and got talking to a really lovely quiet guy called Bud who told me about ejecting hot over Vietnam after A SAM hit from an F4, it was a story that has always stayed with me, the last ditch manoeuvring to lose the missile that they saw come up at them, the ejection itself and walking up on the jungle floor with some Vietkong ninja trying to rip his gold fillings out and the time he spent imprisoned in a half submerged cave. After his friend said he never tells that story.. I remember he had a flask in his breast pocket and I don’t blame him it sounded traumatic. Thanks for serving & sharing

[@MrMcDaver]

Very cool storie! Thanks for sharing. I was a Crew Chief on the F-111E model at RAF Upper Heyford in the early 80's.

[@HoldTheLine1990]

I just learned the -111 is a capsule for the crew when an ejection happens. See, ya learn something new everyday. Cool interview guys.

[@descamm9313]

Got a sweat on listening to this incident, brilliantly told by one of the pilots who was there, 👍🏻👍🏻

[@stephenpage-murray7226]

F-111 stuff always makes the best stories. Keep ‘em coming..

[@robbyowen9107]

Another great interview, thanks Mike! And thank you COL Kerouac for your service and for sharing your story!!

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

Great storyteller! Made this serious event appear to be quite humorous. Australia ran these planes for years too and they seem like a marvel of engineering. 👍🏻

[@PaulBphoto]

I was a support guy on an accident investigation board for an F-111 accident at Loring AFB a few days before Christmas 75 (the a/c was out of Pease). Similar story: fan blade failure while on low level ground following radar pass. The crew ejected the capsule successfully and the a/c buried itself into the wetlands. Thanks for this great video.

[@donpaynter2564]

I was also at Loring at the time of this mishap. One of my enlisted crewmen was president of the local snowmobile club and was recruited to transport the initial investigation team to the crash and ejection sites on their snowmobiles.

[@PaulBphoto]

@@donpaynter2564 I do remember that the site was inaccessible except by snowmobiles. They had to build roads to both sites.

[@albertsmith9315]

I was an Egress troop for over 22 years in the USAF, mostly on ejection seats. When I got stationed at Edwards, I had to get trained up on F-111s which were used for ALCM chase in the mid-'80s. I'll never forget showing up for work and being told that I had to change out the recovery chute on an aardvark, no training, never seen anyone do it, no idea. What a job. Giant compressed chute that begins expanding as soon as you remove it from the special box that mimics the hole in the fuselage that it goes in... you only have minutes to insert it, get all the bridles connected and routed and then get the explosive panel with many dozens of screws fixed to the plane, or you will never be able to install the panel because the chute will swell out of the compartment. So many chances to have a failure. I was so happy when I left F-111s and went back to ejection seat aircraft. FWIW... the module's rocket in a slow ejection has 27,000 pounds of thrust on one nozzle and 500 on the second. Your back injury is very easy to get if not positioned correctly.

[@robertgutheridge9672]

I'm a former Army 15 Tango crew chief on a UH-60 Blackhawk its amazing how smooth a good pilot can be. And from one to another thank you for your service to our country and humanity.. side note next to the F-4 Phantom the F-111 is my favorite aircraftF4 favorite because well my uncle flew him and it brought him home even with a whole 3 ft round in a wing and a lot of shrapnel

[@tirshk]

I remember that evening into the next morning all too well - the massive relief at hearing they were ok

[@KD5XB]

Same here. I sat up really late trying to hear news on the scanner.

[@neilsphotos]

Love the Fox One Eleven stories, living near Spadeadam in Northumberland, I used to love watching them entering the range 👍

[@nickgreaves3355]

Night jumped into Spadeadam 93 remember the farmer at Spadeadam farm not to far away not being to happy with me/us after terrifying his livestock.

[@markclifton14]

What an amazing story. Great guy to interview. Amazing he can remember so much detail, from along time ago.

[@sergiozammel8261]

WOW, I'm an F 111 lover, not every day do you hear a successful ejection story from an Ardvaark. Thanks for this!

[@patrickflohe7427]

There were numerous successful ejections from F-111s. They were flying for like 45 years.

[@johnp139]

Depends what you consider successful.

[@paulholmes1303]

F-111 was the safest airplane in the USAF in its era at the time of its decommissioning (1996 & 1998) As with any highly advanced aircraft, aircraft was still getting issues sorted out in the first decade or so and ejections were not 100% successful, and frankly there was still "out of envelope" ejection learning going on. The last couple of decades success was more assured. As Rob says here, you HAVE to have proper posture when the handles are pulled as even the act of the inertia reels (Seat Harness) pulling tight to the seat back, can be a problem. Having worked the airplane for 16 years, I only knew personally (at the base I was at at the time) of one fatal crash, (ejected into a canyon wall during night TFR) and one major injury, Colonel Coleman, my 366TFW wing commander, whose back WAS broken and with failure of the impact bag on his side, permanently so. The F-111 was a great fighter bomber that had capabilities well beyond current airplanes. Even the Strike Eagle, its replacement, has just a little over half its range, among other compromises. One thing to remember is you always hear the worst side of things as success is boring and seldom reported.

[@sergiozammel8261]

@@paulholmes1303 Thanks Paul F111C was such a great aircraft, and here in oz served us well for over 30 years. I miss seeing them fly, and if the US made new ones, I think we'd buy again. A Jet beyond it's time.

[@patrickflohe7427]

@@paulholmes1303 There were so many instances where ejection was never initiated. Some people incorrectly assume that a fatality crash would be the fault of the aircraft, and a failed ejection system. -NOT true at all. A very large number of the crashes were CFIT….Controlled Flight Into Terrain. -in those cases, ejection usually / often wouldn’t be attempted.

[@elosogonzalez8739]

I use to travel to Clovis from Albuquerque once in a while. Several times I pull-over to the side of the road and watch and listen to the F-111s near the Melrose Range. Fun to listen to as we could never see ver much since it was mostly done at night. The F-111 in front of Cannon AFB is a cool sight. Great story!

[@eazymoneyracing]

Such an awesome story! I was at the Deid the same time as Col Kytoyac. Good dude and had never heard this story until now.

[@johnst65]

Great interview , I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford England in 1984 and worked with the planes and pilots delivering ordinance

[@timothylaynor2118]

Was there at Cannon at this time, working 428th aircraft. Prior to leaving Cannon in 1996, I became the squadron Chief.

[@lawdpleasehelpmeno]

That was an amazing story. Imagine being the guards who had to watch the wreckage, what a night that would have been! Out in the desert, very cool!

[@jdbrown3695]

What an amazing story. Thanks for telling it and glad everything turned out pretty OK for both of you!

[@BeechSportBill]

…so glad you came out of this…. Seeing you two at the impact site instead on IN the site!

[@declanbrady5172]

What a great story and a great story teller. Loved this interview. It left me wanting more more more!!!!

[@goodwinml]

OMG!!! An F-111 video I have never seen. Loved it. I was backshop avionics for F-111’s. 1981 through A/C retirement. This happened a month before I came back to Cannon for the 2nd time. I also worked at Melrose Bombing Range for 17 years after I retired from the USAF, 2000-2017.

[@332FG-Pitman]

Great story, what a great Man to listen to! Could listen to him for days!

[@JoshuaC923]

What an amazing story and interview

[@realxman2000]

I was an A shopper at Cannon in the 523rd when that happened, glad to see you are doing well, sir!

[@paulholmes1303]

Go Crusaders!!

[@matthewstewart3446]

I was the HazMat coordinator for that recovery. Spent a lot of hours doing paperwork for the large amount of 55 gallon drums. Each containing the sand and hazardous fluids it absorbed. Those barrels weighed a ton. I never made it out to the crash site but saw the pictures. I worked R&R (repair and recovery) while at Canon. The recovery of the aircraft was made difficult because it completely shattered and buried itself into the sand. There was not much large pieces of wreckage. If I recall correctly only about 60% of the aircraft was successfully recovered. I also recall seeing the stick in the squadron for awhile before it disappeared. I know I did not take it. Now I know where it went. I was happy to know you guys made it out alive. Been on too many recoveries with fatalities. Those are never nice.

[@ronmorgan1906]

I was in Radio Maintenance and we were sent out the day after for site comms. Bits and pieces everywhere. I also had to go back out for final cleanup. EOD showed up after we had been there an hour picking up and told us a BDU33 and it's phospher charge were still missing. We never found it thankfully!

[@publicmail2]

What an entertaining guy.

[@txtworld]

Rob, an amazing story. Thanks for relaying it for our benefit ... and thanks for your service

[@fyrdawg533]

Great story!! I was a Sgt stationed at Holloman AFB near Alamogordo, NM in 1973 - 1975. Cannon AFB (Clovis NM) had recently converted to the 111's then. Col. "KY" mentioned the "scrubs" and dunes in the area of their ejection. Once, during my time at Holloman, I was assigned to a "Cleanup detail" at the Red Rio Gunnery Range, north of Alamogordo, toward Carrizozo That desolate area had tumble weeds and "moonscape" terrain, I would add "mesquite". A group of us young enlisted personnel were detailed by our Squadrons to pick up the 20mm dummy rounds and casings scattered across the range. It was quite hot and we were sufficiently warned about the Rattlesnakes and being careful where we reached. Thank you Col. Kyrouac for sharing your story in such detail! I left the USAF in late Dec 1980 as an Air Traffic Controller and a few years later served in the Air Force Reserve as a Deputy Fire Chief. From those 2 career fields, I could visualize your story as it unfolded. BTW, we all know not all ejections end as well as yours and your WSO did. Yours could be a profound life experience and I am sure you inspired many young aviators with your experience and insight! Again, THANK YOU!

[@WeeJasperVetClinic]

The way he told the story, it was a great narrative but I guess they have to be a excellent at de-briefs and more if things did not go as planned. One of the best stories I have heard. It must of been a hell of a night. F111 crash and surviving. Both men are remarkable

[@andrewferguson3535]

Awesome interview! Rob described it all brilliantly.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Andrew.

[@francisdrelling4060]

"I'm not gonna tell a Flight Surgeon that, what am I insane?" lol I also noticed the "Fireballs" on the tail. What a great story.

[@Mtlmshr]

Absolutely entertaining! First off thanks for your service more than anything! As a 17 year old going through aircraft maintenance school at Shepard AFB Texas the F111 blew me away for many reasons but what caught my attention first was the fact that the entire cockpit was the ejection apparatus! Until this video (40+ Years later) it never really dawned on me until he mentioned it, that all the things that had to be cut or otherwise be disconnected from the aircraft when the ejection happens just boggles my mind! It never occurred to me! Your not taught that stuff at maintenance school. I just thought it was cool that the whole thing ejected!

[@John.Achor.Aviating.Author]

Rob, Great story and great story teller; maybe you'll turn to writing like I did-fiction mostly. As the aircraft commander of a four-engine, one-of-a-kind recon jet, I took her off the 40 foot cliff at the end of the runway on a small island at the end of the Aleutian Island chain. All 18 of of us walked away. My commander did the same as yours; he called my wife and let her know of the accident and that all of us were okay. Stuck on the island it was some time before the accident boards arrived and details began to get out. During that lull, we learned who were fair weather friends who were real. Amazing how a "no crew error" report changed minds and brought them back to the flock. I got a severe whip lash in the lower back, all in the muscles and no spinal compression, so I was far more fortunate than you. Thank you for your service and I wish you well in all your future endeavors.

[@bmoulas]

Great interview all around! Thanks to both of you for bringing this to us.

[@bangochupchup]

USAF F-111A 77-055 crashed north of our house in Kingston, Utah in 1974. It had collided with a twin engine civilian plane. I was a little kid when it happened. I remember as a teenager finding a bent up piece of the smaller plane in the sagebrush. Another F-111 had crashed the year before in Zion National Park to the south of us.

[@ronyoder8187]

Working crash rescue at Nellis waiting for them to return from a night training flight. Two flight formation to perform a night refueling operation as I recall and one f-111 had a midair with the twin cargo aircraft that was transitioning through restricted airspace. F111 crew ejected safely while the pilot of the twin did not survive.

[@LRRPFco52]

It was 67-055: "Crashed after mid-air collision with an Aero Commander 690A (N40MP) on November 12, 1974 at 18:04 MST 180 NM Northeast of Nellis AFB. Wreckage pattern approx. 2 NM long, impacted 8 NM NW of Kingston Utah. Sigma flight (2 x F-111A of 428th TFS) were joining KC-135A (tail number 58-110 callsign Toft 51 from Grand Forks 319th BW). 67-055's call sign was "Sigma 71". The other F-111A involved, 66-058 call sign "Sigma 72", returned to Nellis AFB unscathed. Both crew of 67-0055 - Captain Peter Granger (33) of Fargo, ND and Captain Paul B. Sperry (27) of Palo Alto, Calif. - ejected safely The Aero Commander N40MP (from Butte, Montana), belonging to Montana Power Company, also crashed, killing the pilot [later named as Rocco B. Fiori, 34, of Butte, Montana]. The KC-135 observed the collision and fireball from 22 nm away. According to the NTSB report, the F-111A, being the faster aircraft, collided with the Aero Commander 690A at a very shallow angle (approx 0-10 degrees) when it misidentified the Aero Commander 690A as being the KC-135 tanker they were to rendezvous with. The F-111A overtook N40MP from the rear. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the F-111A pilot's misidentification of the Turbo Commander as a refueling tanker with which he intended to rendezvous. Contributing to the misidentification was his failure to use prescribed procedures and techniques during rendezvous with a tanker aircraft for refueling."

[@joeg5414]

Cannon. Good times. I was stationed at Cannon AFB in 2001 for 4 years and worked in airfield management. Found pieces once during a FOD walk of an f111 left behind after a crash. Sounds like his was off base near Melrose though. At first I thought maybe this was the pilot of the plane I found pieces from 😂

[@terencedebruycker3840]

Good morning Colonel, Absolutely fascinating!! Prior to my retirement I flew several thousand hours - commercially. Foe hire and for a fairly large medical center in the midwest (where I was also employed as a Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner in Vascular and Thoracic surgery and Orthopedics. Ended up in a Kind-Air 350 which was good for a couple of thousand hours of turbine time and I absolutely loved it. Although it was tremendous fun with only a few instances of in-flight "concerns/issues" your story literally sent shivers up/down my spine. Interestingly I can also claim 2 compression fractures - the 1st being L5 (relatively bad skydiving accident/double malfunction at a time when I just couldn't yet afford flying lessons but got to fly anyway if only on one-way trips) and the 2nd being L1 with a clumsy fall in 2018. I honestly could listen to your storytelling for hours - you are a natural at it. If you are still flying "happy landings" and "keep the dirty side down and the pointy end forward" - yeah, I know those two hackneyed phrases have been uttered thousands of times but I still like 'em. Anyway, thanks for the great presentation and all the very best to you and yours, Terry

[@electron4784]

Wow that was a great story. Thanks for sharing. Glad you all were not hurt any worse.

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

Amazing story! Glad there were a few photos, it was AWESOME of your Flight Surgeon to have done all he did after.. wow

[@mikeF111]

Great story. Loved the detail and the AIB questions are always entertaining! Luckily never had to pull the handle.

[@ILSRWY4]

@21:12 the name strip on that vertical stab says "Fireballs" I cannot stop.. that is exactly how that airplane ended... one big fireball!

[@michaeldahlke1486]

Well after my time at Cannon. Worked as an avionics shop weenie on the D model from 76-80. Made me chuckle with your description of Lubbock as the big city. Certainly remember that thought as well.

[@pungarehu]

Absolutely brilliant storyteller