ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 57256
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| Date: | Wednesday 28 November 1979 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Grumman EA-6B Prowler |
| Owner/operator: | VAQ-135, US Navy |
| Registration: | 158541 |
| MSN: | P-19 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | 63 nm from Diego Garcia, BIOT -
 Indian Ocean
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) off Diego Garcia |
| USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
EA-6B Prowler BuNo. 158541/'NL-626' of VAQ-135, US Navy based at NAS Whidbey Island and assigned to Air Wing 15 deployed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk for an extended Western Pacific/Indian Ocean Deployment. The flight was to be a routine ESM/ECM mission.
On 28 November 1979: the USS Kitty Hawk arrived in the vicinity of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. NL 626, an EA-6B (BuNo 158541), CDR Peter T. Rodrick, squadron CO, LCDR William J. Coffey, LT James B. Brown*, Jr., and LT(JG) John R. Chorey, VAQ-135, launched for a scheduled electronic support measures (ESM) mission, at 1324, at 07º33’S, 073º19’E. Kitty Hawk was under EMCON A conditions, which prohibited electronic emissions from either the ship or the Prowler.
Within two minutes the Prowler passed close abeam of guided missile cruiser Jouett (CG-29), about eight nautical miles ahead of the carrier. The EA-6B suddenly executed a “near vertical climbing turn,” partial cloud cover obscuring further observation of the aircraft, though it is surmised that the crew was practicing a “low level ingress tactic.” Though not verified, it is believed the Prowler impacted the water at approximately 13 miles off the port beam of Kitty Hawk, 63 nautical miles from Diego Garcia, at 1505. Despite determined efforts by two SH-3Hs from the carrier and a Lockheed P-3 Orion from Diego Garcia, none of the men were recovered.
Sources:
1. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
2. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries20.html
3. https://www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/418798311
4. http://nigelrsadler.webspace.virginmedia.com/ea6production.htm
5. http://www.ea6bprowler.org/BUNOS
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jan-2009 11:55 | ASN archive | Added |
| 28-Mar-2016 19:00 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Source, Narrative] |
| 29-Mar-2016 19:48 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 19-Oct-2016 16:52 | Win Brown | Updated [Operator] |
| 13-May-2021 13:54 | Sparky | Updated [Operator, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 30-Sep-2023 07:57 | Ron Averes | Updated [[Operator, Destination airport, Narrative]] |
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